Visiting malaria affected areas delays blood donations
The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) reminds donors of malaria donation guidelines.
In an release issued by the organisation, “The SANBS appreciates its dedicated donors and have been informed of the fact that many travelled to malaria endemic areas over the holidays which could affect their ability to donate blood for several weeks after their return.”
The life-threatening disease is endemic to some parts of South Africa such as north KwaZulu-Natal and the Lowveld areas of Mpumalanga.
Neighbouring high-risk countries include Swaziland and Mozambique which are popular holiday destinations.
Read:Â SANBS is not a blood bank
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), Sub-Saharan African countries accounted for 92% of global malaria cases and deaths in 2015.
In South Africa 10 000 cases of malaria are detected annually.
Malaria is among the infectious diseases that SANBS prioritises in the screening process as it is transmitted from infected individuals through blood transfusions and infected needles.
The outcome for those infected can be deadly therefore SANBS has adopted stringent procedures to curb its transmission.
The organisation conducts extensive interviews to obtain information from donors thus reducing the risk of malaria-infected blood passing through the system.
Read:Â SANBS celebrates blood donors
These interviews form part of an integrated screening process which includes extensive laboratory testing of blood to prevent the transmission of malaria and other infectious diseases commonly found in South Africa, namely HIV, Hepatitis B and C as well as syphilis.
SANBS Marketing Manager Silungile Mlambo emphasises the importance of donors answering the self-exclusion questionnaire accurately.
“We encourage donors to give us as much information as possible when answering the self-exclusion questionnaire as this is the first step in the blood collection process that enables us to safeguard the nation’s blood supply to the best of our ability,” says Mlambo.
If you have been in a malaria region and are considering donating blood, take note of these malaria-related exclusion criteria:
• Donors who have contracted malaria can donate three years after completing treatment.
• Donors who travel to high-risk areas can give blood four weeks after their return from a malaria area if they have not experienced any symptoms commonly associated with malaria such as fever, sweating and headache.
The guidelines are slightly different for donors who grew up in malaria areas outside South Africa and now live in the country.
If the time absent from their country of origin is:
• More than three years and they have made no visits back to those areas, they will be allowed to donate if they fit all other criteria.
• Less than three years and they have revisited the malaria area within the three years, they must wait for another three years before their next donation.
“SANBS understands that our various processes can sometimes be difficult to understand and remember.
“Therefore we urge all existing and potential donors to always seek information and advice from our donor centres and other channels including their tollfree number, 0800 119 031, and the website at www.sanbs.org.za,” concludes Mlambo.
