SINGAPORE : Three people contracted the dengue virus after
receiving infected blood from a donor in Singapore.
The infected blood came from a 52-year-old repeat donor who gave
blood on July 15 last year.
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said this is the first local
case of dengue fever transmission via blood. The other reported
case of transfusion transmitted dengue was from Hong Kong.
There are currently no licensed kits available in the market to
screen donated blood for dengue. But HSA said it is taking
precautionary measures to address the safety of the national blood
supply.
For example, there is a strict screening process in place for the
recruitment of blood donors.
In addition, the HSA is conducting a study with National University
of Singapore laboratories to explore ways to test for dengue in
donated blood.
The HSA assures the public that it has a quality system in place to
keep risks at a minimum. - CNA /ls