[Emerging infectious disease and transfusion-transmitted infection]

Abstract

Hepatitis B, hepatitis C and HIV infections are well-known infectious diseases caused by blood products, but recently there have been almost no reports. In 2011, hepatitis E virus (HEV) antibody test was covered by insurance in Japan, and certain numbers of transfusion-transmitted HEV were reported, and five cases were recognized in 2019. As the Japanese Red Cross has started to examine individual NAT of HEV for all blood donors since August 2020, and the number of transfusion-transmitted HEV will decrease. In addition, Trypanosoma cruzi antibody test for selective blood donors has been examined since August 2016, and the risk of Chagas disease infection by blood transfusion will be decreased. In the future, it is important for protecting against the transfusion-transmitted infection to inspect bacterial tests and know the information of emerging infectious disease occurring overseas. When the emerging infectious diseases such as DENV (dengue virus), WNV (West Nile virus), Zika (Zika virus) and CHIKV (chikungunya virus) occur in Japan, it is necessary to stimulate countermeasures and prepare what kind of tests should be performed for blood donors or criteria for blood donation.

Keywords: Blood donor; Blood transfusion; Emerging infectious disease; Transfusion-transmitted infection.