News

Feb 4, 2016, 13:31 PM by User Not Found

The OPTN/UNOS Ad Hoc Disease Transmission Advisory Committee, AST, and ASTS, after careful review of information available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, have issued guidance for transplant centers and OPOs in light of the recent spread of Zika virus throughout large parts of the Americas.

Zika virus may infect deceased donors prior to or during their terminal illness. Further, living donors may become infected prior to transplant. In addition, Zika virus is likely to present a concern for solid organ recipients travelling from affected regions. The risk of transmitting the disease through solid organ transplantation is unknown at this time, but based on preliminary reports, it is theoretically possible that the virus could be transmitted through blood transfusion.

The full guidance document is available here. It will be updated as more information becomes available.