Canada and the US banning blood donations from some UK visitors

Date: Aug. 17, 1999
Time: 2:28 pm

Today's announcement is "strictly a precautionary measure" according to Health Canada, particularly given that there is only a theoretical risk of contracting the fatal brain disorder, variant Creutzfeld-Jakob Disease (vCJD), through the blood supply. Working in collaboration with Health Canada, the Food and Drug Administration in the US issued a similar ban today.

The new directive is based on the best available science and a "compromise" between risk and benefit, said Dr. Doug Kennedy of Health Canada's Bureau of Biologics and Radiopharmaceuticals. The years between 1980 and 1996 were selected because that's when an outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or mad cow disease) went relatively unchecked. The 6-months cumulative time was based on data that indicated "we would get rid of 80 to 90% of the risk but only defer about 3% of donors across Canada," Kennedy told eCMAJ Today. "We want to avoid blood shortages," he added.

The Canadian Blood Services (CBS) estimates that the 3% that will be deferred donate 20 000 units of blood annually. CBS also announced today a publicity campaign to increase the number of donors and frequency of donations to make up for the anticipated shortfall.

"Our greatest concern is that people will stop donating without reason," said CBS chief executive officer Lynda Cranston. Donors are urged to contact their local CBS blood centre or call 1-888-760-8545 to determine if they are still eligible.

CBS will also be monitoring hospitals to determine the policy's impact.

-- Barbara Sibbald, Ottawa

Send a letter to the editor Envoyez une lettre à la rédaction