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Published: 11:44 PM CDT September 7, 2024
Updated: 11:44 PM CDT September 7, 2024
Author: Brandon Schaff
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — West Nile Virus is present in the Coastal Bend and residents are asked to take precautions to avoid getting bit by mosquitos. ...
... However, in rare cases, it can be spread through a blood donation. 3NEWS spoke with the Coastal Bend Blood Center about how they test for the virus and what happens to infected donated blood.
About 80% of people with West Nile Virus will not feel anything, according to Dr. Kim Onufrak, an emergency room physician at Surepoint ER on Padre Island.
If someone is donating blood and does not know that they have it, Coastal Bend Blood Center media spokesperson Ashley Ramirez said that blood goes through an extensive testing process for diseases.
“Our main priority is making sure and ensuring that we’re providing that safe blood supply for our local residents here in our community,” Ramirez said.
Ramirez said that every donor’s blood is tested every time, and there were no positive test results for West Nile Virus at the Coastal Bend Blood Center since 2016. Since it is always a possibility, she said that it is important for them to test for that and all diseases. ...
