KUALA LUMPUR: The National Blood Centre (NBC) will develop a protocol to prevent Malaysians from contracting the Zika virus via blood transfusions, the Health Ministry announced today. Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr S. Subramaniam said the move was necessary to prevent the spread of the Zika virus, which has so far infected four Malaysians, including a pregnant woman. “Our blood bank is creating a protocol to reduce the risk of people getting infected by the Zika virus through blood donations,” he told reporters after officiating MIC’s 70th anniversary celebrations here today. Dr Subramaniam said the protocol, once implemented, would benefit expectant mothers in particular, as those infected with the Zika virus ran a risk of passing the virus to their unborn child. The Zika virus is a mosquito-borne virus transmitted by Aedes mosquitoes and is known to circulate in Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.

Source: New Strait Times September 12, 2016 07:41 UTC