The spread of the tiger mosquito in Europe has contributed to the "very critical" level of blood supplies in the country, according to the Belgian Red Cross.
While this type of mosquito was previously found in more tropical areas, its presence in Europe has increased over the years. This can be a health hazard as the mosquito can spread diseases transmitted by blood, such as dengue fever, Zika or chikungunya.
Amid the trend, blood services have had to further restrict the requirements for blood donations and temporarily refuse more donors returning from at-risk areas.
"We currently have no means of testing for these viruses as we do for other tropical diseases...The only possible way to prevent contamination of patients is to eliminate all risks and therefore potential donors who may have come into contact with the virus," explained the director of the Biological Analysis Laboratory at the Red Cross Blood Service, Marie-Pierre Rodenbach.
Travellers returning to Belgium from at-risk areas, including the South of France, need to wait at least 28 days before donating blood, plasma or platelets. The exact waiting periods can vary depending on the destination and date of return.
As a result of the measures, in just the last two weeks, blood banks in Belgium have had to refuse double the number of donors returning from their holidays, according to the Belgian Red Cross.
While the mobilisation of blood donors at the start of the summer helped build enough stock until mid-August, the blood supplies are once again compromised.
"Negative blood groups are under extreme pressure in just a few days, particularly O negative, which is in high demand from hospitals. The situation is also very tense in neighbouring countries for the same reasons," explained the Belgian Red Cross in a statement.
The organisation's blood banks are urgently calling for anyone who fits the criteria for being a blood donor to donate blood as soon as possible.
"It is very difficult to maintain stocks due to these external factors. We must therefore appeal to the solidarity of the population, particularly those who have not travelled to risk areas this summer," said Director General of the Blood Service, Geneviève Mathy.
