Two cases of the Zika virus being transmitted by a blood transfusion were reported in Brazil, according to a report in the New England Journal of Medicine.
According to the report the donor wasn’t sick at the time of donation but started showing symptoms two days later.
Two patients tested positive for Zika but showed no symptoms.
There is currently no screening of donors in Brazil, however, in Canada, there is a 21-day waiting period before donors who have recently been in a known Zika area can donate blood.
Drop in blood donations
The new 21-day waiting period eligibility criteria has caused a one per cent drop in blood donations, according to the Canadian Blood Services.
The new rules, which came into effect earlier this year, were in response to the recent global outbreak of the Zika virus and are intended to safeguard Canada’s blood supply.
The Canadian Blood Services states that anyone who has travelled outside of Canada, the continental United States and Europe are temporarily ineligible to give blood for three weeks.
This period ensures enough time has passed for the virus to be eliminated from a person’s blood stream.
“We are urging Canadians to donate before they travel to help make up for a further shortfall,” said Marcelo Dominguez, a spokesperson for the organization.
The waiting period also applies to cord blood and stem cell donors.
