Understanding the Risks of Swine Flu 

The outbreak of H1N1 Influenza Virus (Swine Flu) infections in the United States has raised the question of whether this virus can be transmitted through blood transfusion, because severe illness and deaths have been reported among infected individuals in Mexico and in the U.S. However, there has never been a case of transfusion transmitted seasonal influenza has ever been reported in the United States or elsewhere, and, to date, no cases of transfusion transmitted H1N1 flu have been reported.

The FDA is working with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the AABB Interorganizational Task Force on Pandemic Influenza and the Blood Supply to monitor this outbreak and its impact on the safety and availability of the nation’s blood supply. There is no indication the blood supply is at risk, and  it is important to remember that, when medically necessary, the benefits of a transfusion far outweigh the risks, including any theoretical risk of H1N1 flu transmission through blood or blood products.

Blood centers are required to reject potential donors who are not in good health.  Current blood donor screening procedures should easily identify persons with symptoms of H1N1 flu infection, because the symptoms of H1N1 flu are similar to regular human influenza and include fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue.  Some people have reported diarrhea and vomiting associated with H1N1 flu and these are symptoms that would be obvious in the screening process.

So, it is critical for patients that need blood transfusions or other blood products not to reject those treatments out of fear of any additional risk from H1N1 virus.