It comes after the Zika virus was found to be circulating in mosquitoes in that area.
Donations won’t be accepted for the next four weeks.
The Red Cross said that it’s not out of the ordinary to issue a deferral, but it comes during a time when the organization is in a desperate need of blood.
“Everyday, the Red Cross needs to collect 14,000 units of blood just to meet the needs of the hospitals we serve,” said Anna Parrelli, district manager for the Red Cross.
However, that number is harder to reach during the summer months.
Parrelli said that every summer, the organization typically sees a shortage in blood donations.
“We lose a lot of blood drives in terms of college and high school students so we lose that population and a lot of people are out on vacation or gone enjoying the nice weather. They’re not necessarily thinking of coming up to give blood,” Parrelli explained.
However, this year, that number is lower than expected, which has forced the Red Cross to continue their summer appeal into August.
“And we are still encouraging and asking all eligible donors to take the time to come out to a blood drive close to them, roll up their sleeve, and give the gift of life,” Parrelli added.
During the midst of their shortage, the Red Cross has now issued a blood donor deferral for anyone who has traveled to Miami-Dade and Broward counties in Florida after the Zika virus was detected in mosquitos in that area. That means you can’t donate blood for four weeks.
The organization said it’s an effort to make sure blood is safe enough to donate to those in need.
In the meantime, Parrelli noted that she expects the low donor numbers to rise once the fall season comes around.
“We do, yes we do, so there is light at the end of the tunnel, but we have to make sure the blood is there today for the people who need it today,” Parrelli said.
Under the guidance of the FDA, the Red Cross also adding a specific questionnaire for donors concerning travel to areas with local Zika virus transmission.
The-CNN-Wire ™ & © 2016 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
(Photo: CNN)
