Horizon Scanning for Emerging infections

In July 2007 a formal horizon scanning system was set up by the NHSBT/HPA Epidemiology Unit in order to identify emerging infection reports of relevance to blood donation safety in the UK.

Image: The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes Albopictus feeding, courtesy of CDC

A wide variety of published sources are scanned by the NHSBT/HPA Epidemiology Unit for emerging infection items that could be relevant to blood donation such as Chikungunya, Dengue and West Nile Virus. Sources include: monthly summaries from the Emerging Infections and Zoonoses Department (EIZD) at CfI; reports by the HPA Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response; epidemiological data from various HPA departments including the Travel and Migrant Health Section; Health Protection Scotland surveillance reports; The National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) outbreak surveillance and clinical updates; PROMED emails; American Association for Blood Banks (AABB) newsletters and peer reviewed literature.

Relevant items are collated on a monthly basis into a listing for the Chair of the UK Standing Advisory Committee on Transfusion Transmitted Infection (SACTTI).  The report is also distributed to other NHS Blood and Transplant, Department of Health and HPA colleagues. Early warning communications or other reports that are deemed urgent are notified to the Chair of SACTTI as they arise.

These monthly emerging report listings are used to review current status of infections and instigate further risk assessment which may lead to changes to the donor selection guidelines or other blood safety measures where neccessary.

A sample of the report listing may be viewed here: Emerging Infection Listing Sample (PDF, 8 KB) 

For more information or to be added to the distribution list please contact Claire Reynolds