• Home
  • News
    • Politics & Government
    • Business & Economy
    • Crime / Courts
    • Health / Medicine
  • Sports
    • High School Sports
    • Radio Iowa Poll
  • Affiliates
    • Affiliate Support Page
  • Contact Us
    • Reporters

Radio Iowa

Iowa's Radio News Network

You are here: Home / Health / Medicine / Task force keeping eye on H1N1 impact on the blood supply

Task force keeping eye on H1N1 impact on the blood supply

November 16, 2009 By Dar Danielson

A Davenport doctor is leading a national task force that’s dealing with the impact of the H1N1 flu on the nation’s blood supply. Doctor Louis Katz of the Mississippi Valley Regional Blood Center in Davenport says blood supplies around the country remain robust — but a survey shows that about one fourth of blood centers nationwide report reduced donations due to flu.

He says there are sometimes fewer donors than expected at a high school, colleges or business blood drives, and there’s been the cancellation of a few blood drives because of absenteeism from flu. Katz says more donors are calling this year after giving blood and reporting illnesses, so the blood must be thrown out. Katz says that’s a precaution blood centers take even though flu is not believed to be transmitted by blood.

“In all the years that blood transfusion and influenza have co-existed, more than 50 years, no one has ever alleged that flu was transmitted by transfusion,” Katz says. The task force is helping medical centers prepare to handle a possible blood shortage in the future if the flu outbreak gets worse.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Health / Medicine

Featured Stories

Final employee who was there at the launch of the Iowa Lottery to retire

No more USPS mail in Iowa prisons; inmates to get copies of mail

State officials warn of influx of fake prescription drugs laced with fentanyl

‘Brain-eating amoeba’ discovered in Taylor County lake

Cedar Rapids therapist’s relationship with student leads to years in prison

TwitterFacebook
Tweets by RadioIowa

Iowa State basketball builds on its identity

Vance provides leadership for ISU defense

Knee injury sidelines Iowa’s Feuerbach

Iowa State’s McDonald has unfinished business

Hawkeyes open fall camp

More Sports

eNews and Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner

Archives

Copyright © 2022 · Learfield News & Ag, LLC