Stanford Blood Center Testing All Donated Blood for West Nile Virus

Business Wire, August 30, 2006

STANFORD, Calif. -- As part of its planned precautionary efforts, the Stanford Blood Center is testing all donated blood for West Nile Virus in response to 88 cases of the infection being reported in California, including one in Santa Clara County and three in Contra Costa County.

The Stanford center, along with the Blood Centers of the Pacific and the American Red Cross, are testing every unit of collected blood for the virus using tests either being evaluated in clinical trials or recently cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Since 2004, the Stanford Blood Center has tested all donated blood whenever cases of West Nile Virus appear in the area.

West Nile Virus is an infection that is transmitted to humans via mosquitoes that have previously fed on birds that carry the disease. Most people infected with the virus have no symptoms. About 20 percent will develop mild flu-like symptoms such as fever, body aches, chills and general tiredness. Rarely, symptoms of infection can be severe, especially in the elderly, infants and people who have weakened immune systems as a result of treatments for cancer or other diseases. Severe infections can lead to encephalitis (an infection of the brain), meningitis (an infection of the membrane covering the brain) and paralysis.

"There is no risk of contracting West Nile Virus, or any other disease, through donating blood," said Stanford Blood Center spokesman Michelle Bussenius. She also encouraged residents to consider donating blood since the blood supply is lower during the summer months while traumas and transplant surgeries typically increase during the same time period.

While Bay Area blood banks are taking steps to ensure the safety of the blood supply, officials encourage local residents to take preventive action against West Nile Virus by wearing protective clothing and using insect repellents containing DEET in areas known to have mosquitoes.

Those interested in donating or wishing more information can contact the Stanford Blood center at (650) 723-7831 or (888) 723-7831. Appointments can also be scheduled online at http://bloodcenter.stanford.edu.

Stanford University Medical Center integrates research, medical education and patient care at its three institutions -- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford Hospital & Clinics and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford. For more information, please visit the Web site of the medical center's Office of Communication & Public Affairs at http://mednews.stanford.edu.