Hospitals in South Texas could experience a blood shortage in the very near future because of the Zika virus. The Association of American Blood Banks is recommending people who have traveled to affected countries refrain from giving blood for at least 28 days after returning.
The South Texas Blood and Tissue Center will be following these guidelines.
“We have a number of regular donors who cross the border into Mexico on a regular basis to visit family and friends,” said Doctor Samantha Gomez, the Associate Medical Director at the Blood and Tissue Center. “We’re thinking that based on some preliminary analysis that could be a potential loss of 10,000 donations on an annual basis.”
Gomez is encouraging new donors and those who haven’t traveled to affected areas to give blood.
