Potential for Zika virus transmission through blood transfusion demonstrated during an outbreak in French Polynesia, November 2013 to February 2014

D Musso; T Nhan; E Robin; C Roche; D Bierlaire; K Zisou; A Shan Yan; V M Cao-Lormeau; J Broult

doi:10.2807/1560-7917.ES2014.19.14.20761

Rapid communications Open Access

Like 0

Download

Potential for Zika virus transmission through blood transfusion demonstrated during an outbreak in French Polynesia, November 2013 to February 2014
D Musso¹ , T Nhan¹ , E Robin¹ , C Roche¹ , D Bierlaire² , K Zisou¹ , A Shan Yan¹ , V M Cao-Lormeau¹ , J Broult²
View Affiliations Hide Affiliations

Affiliations: ¹ Unit of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Institut Louis Malardé, Tahiti, French Polynesia ² Centre hospitalier du Taaone, Tahiti, French Polynesia

Correspondence:
D Musso
dmusso ilm.pf
View Citation Hide Citation

Citation style for this article: Musso D, Nhan T, Robin E, Roche C, Bierlaire D, Zisou K, Shan Yan A, Cao-Lormeau V M, Broult J. Potential for Zika virus transmission through blood transfusion demonstrated during an outbreak in French Polynesia, November 2013 to February 2014 . Euro Surveill. 2014;19(14):pii=20761. https://doi.org/10.2807/1560-7917.ES2014.19.14.20761 Received: 31 Mar 2014

Abstract

Since October 2013, French Polynesia has experienced the largest documented outbreak of Zika virus (ZIKAV) infection. To prevent transmission of ZIKAV by blood transfusion, specific nucleic acid testing of blood donors was implemented. From November 2013 to February 2014: 42 (3%) of 1,505 blood donors, although asymptomatic at the time of blood donation, were found positive for ZIKAV by PCR. Our results serve to alert blood safety authorities about the risk of post-transfusion Zika fever.