Zika threat to U.S. blood supply a growing concern

MIAMI -- As the number of confirmed cases of Zika continues to grow, so do concerns about the virus infiltrating the nation's blood supply.

Two blood transfusion-transmitted cases confirmed in early February in the Brazilian city of Campinas have prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to issue guidelines last week calling for restrictions of certain blood donations.

The American Red Cross and OneBlood, the primary blood bank of South Florida, have asked those who have traveled to Mexico, the Caribbean or Central or South America to postpone donating blood until 28 days after their return to the continental United States. Twenty-eight countries or territories in Latin America have confirmed cases of Zika. Brazil is the biggest target, with an estimated 1.5 million cases reported since the virus was first diagnosed there in May 2015.

The nonprofit OneBlood, which serves all South Florida hospitals and operates a dozen stand-alone donation centers in Broward and Miami-Dade counties, as well as other areas in the state, requests that the following groups self-defer for four weeks:

Donors with a history of Zika infection.

Donors with symptoms associated with Zika (rash, fever, pink eye, joint pain) within two weeks of traveling to an area where the virus is active.

Donors who've had sexual contact with a man who, in the past three months, was diagnosed with Zika or traveled to, or resided in, an area where Zika is active. Although rare, Zika has been transmitted through sexual relations.

OneBlood also asks all donors to report recent travel history. According to manager of media and public relations Pat Michaels, questionnaires are being updated to include Zika-specific questions.

"The public should take great comfort in knowing our local blood supply is safe and meets the highest possible standards mandated by the FDA," he said.

In Florida, all incidences of Zika -- 26 cases as of Friday, including 10 in Miami-Dade -- have been travel-related, and there have been no reports to date of the virus entering the U.S. blood supply.

"The risk of blood transmission is considered likely," FDA spokeswoman Tara Goodin wrote in an email.

Official guidelines for donation centers are particularly important for safeguarding blood supply because of the virus' predominantly asymptomatic nature, Goodin said added. Four out of five of those infected with Zika do not become symptomatic, according to the FDA.

This story was originally published February 20, 2016 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Zika threat to U.S. blood supply a growing concern ."