Travel History Deferral Guidelines Now Revised To Only Countries With Local Human-to-human Transmission Cases

With immediate effect, the Bloodbank@HSA will defer only those blood donors who have travelled to countries with confirmed reports of local human-to-human transmission of the Influenza A (H1N1-2009) cases. While the global situation on the Influenza A (H1N1-2009) outbreak is still evolving, new information and data presented so far have shown that the virus appears to be contagious but less virulent than previously feared.

2  Donors are urged not to donate blood if they:

• have travelled in the last 14 days to:
  o Mexico
  o USA
  o Canada
  o Spain
  o United Kingdom
  o Germany
  o South Korea
  o and/or any other places with local human-to-human transmission of Influenza A (H1N1-2009) cases [please click here for the latest updated list of countries]
  

They will be deferred for 2 weeks from the date of return.

• are feeling unwell (eg: flu) during the 2 weeks prior to and on the day of donation.
• have fever during the 3 weeks prior to and on the day of donation.
• have had close contact* with a person who has been diagnosed with Influenza A (H1N1-2009) or suspected to have Influenza A (H1N1-2009) in the last 3 weeks.
  

*Close contact refers to having cared for, having lived with, or having had direct contact with a patient with Influenza A (H1N1-2009).

3  The Bloodbank@HSA will continue to monitor and review our screening criteria based on the best available information to ensure the safety of our national blood supply and to also ensure that our blood donors are not unnecessarily deferred. For further clarifications, donors may call the Bloodbank@HSA at Tel: 6213 0626.


HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
SINGAPORE
15 May 2009

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