Another outbreak of dengue fever in North Queensland has forced the Australian Red Cross Blood Service to turn away potential blood donors.
Due to the high risk of infection to recipients of blood transfusions, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service is currently unwilling to take the risk of accepting whole blood donations that could potentially carry the dengue virus.
However, plasma donations are still being accepted by viable candidates as the dengue virus does not affect plasma cells, and whole blood donations will hopefully be accepted again by late June.
Blood Service Queensland Manager Tony Bourke said "If you have been in a Dengue Fever affected area and would like to
donate, we encourage you to come in and be assessed for a plasma only
donation.
"Plasma is crucial to the health and wellbeing of many people and is
widely used in products that treat a variety of life-threatening
conditions."
Plasma is used to treat burn victims, patients with clotting problems, and can be manufactured into a variety of immunisations.
If you wish to donate please contact the Australian Red Cross Blood Service on 13 14 95 or via their website.
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