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