National
SANBS imposes restrictions to curb spread of Zika virus─── DANE BEISHEIM 15:34 Fri, 12 Feb 2016
Potchefstroom - A restriction imposed on anyone who has travelled to Cape Verde or the Americas is expected to reduce the number of eligible blood donors in South Africa.
This follows after the SA National Blood Service adjusted its donor criteria in an effort to proactively ensure no blood recipients will be exposed to the Zika virus. The SANBS’ Vanessa Raju has asked that blood donors who travelled to affected countries should not donate blood within 28 days of returning to South Africa.
The Zika infection is spread through mosquito bites. Although not life-threatening, it may cause serious brain injury to babies whose mothers have been infected during pregnancy.
The full list of affected countries:
Africa
Cape Verde
Americas
Barbados
Bolivia
Brazil
Colombia
Costa Rica
Guyana
Curacao
Dominican Republic
Honduras
Ecuador
El Salvador
Martinique
French Guiana
Mexico
Venezuela
Jamaica
Suriname
US Virgin Islands
Guadeloupe
Guatemala
Paraguay
Panama
Haiti
Puerto Rico
Saint Martin
Nicaragua
Oceania/Pacific
American Samoa
Samoa
Tonga
