West Nile Virus - Whole Blood and Components

Also known as: WNV

Essential information

Definition/s

West Nile Virus endemic areas are shown in the Geographical Disease Risk Index.

Includes

This entry applies to donors who will donate whole blood, platelets and other cellular components.

Excludes

This entry does not apply to fonors who will only donate plasma for fractionation. See West Nile Virus - plasmapheresis donors.

Obligatory

Must not donate if:

  1. It is less than six months from a donor's return from a WNV endemic area and the donor has been diagnosed with WNV whilst there or following their return.
  2. It is less than six months from a donor's return from a WNV endemic area and the donor has either had a history of symptoms suggestive of WNV whilst there or within 28 days of their return.
  3. In other cases it is less than four weeks from a donor's return from a WNV endemic area.
Discretionary
  1. All donors may be accepted six months after their return from an affected area. This may be reduced to four weeks if they have had neither symptoms nor evidence of infection. For donors who have been back in the UK for less than four weeks, who have not been diagnosed with WNV infection and who have not had symptoms suggestive of WNV infection, if a validated NAT for WNV is to be undertaken on the donated component(s), accept.
  2. Donors who have been back in the UK for less than six months, who have had symptoms suggestive of WNV infection while abroad or within 28 days of return, (but no firm diagnosis of WVN infection) if a validated NAT for WNV is to be undertaken on the donated component(s), accept.

Supporting information

See if relevant
Additional information

West Nile Virus is a flavivirus, similar to Dengue, which causes a wide spectrum of infection. This may range from no or minimal symptoms to death. It is geographically widespread, including areas in Europe and other parts of the world not affected by Malaria, and it has reached epidemic proportions in North America in recent years. There it has caused illness and death post transfusion and post transplantation of tissues and organs. It is spread by mosquitoes and so is more prevalent at times of the year when mosquitoes are active.

As the problem can vary both in relation to geography and time of the year it is not possible to state areas from which donors need to be deferred and dates of disease activity. These are provided in the 'Geographical Disease Risk Index'.

A Position Statement on West Nile Virus is available.

Reason for change:
Entry updated to exclude donors who will only donate plasma for fractionation.
Version details:

WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 71 (02 May 2024)