Potential for Zika virus transmission through blood transfusion demonstrated during an outbreak in French Polynesia, November 2013 to February 2014

Euro Surveill. 2014 Apr 10;19(14):20761. doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.es2014.19.14.20761.

Abstract

Since October 2013, French Polynesia has experienced the largest documented outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKAV) infection. To prevent transmission of ZIKAV by blood transfusion, specific nucleic acid testing of blood donors was implemented. From November 2013 to February 2014: 42 (3%) of 1,505 blood donors, although asymptomatic at the time of blood donation, were found positive for ZIKAV by PCR. Our results serve to alert blood safety authorities about the risk of post-transfusion Zika fever.

MeSH terms

  • Blood Donors*
  • Blood-Borne Pathogens / isolation & purification*
  • Disease Outbreaks / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Polynesia / epidemiology
  • RNA, Viral / blood*
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transfusion Reaction*
  • Zika Virus / genetics
  • Zika Virus / isolation & purification*
  • Zika Virus Infection / diagnosis
  • Zika Virus Infection / epidemiology
  • Zika Virus Infection / transmission*
  • Zika Virus Infection / virology

Substances

  • RNA, Viral