The Potential Impact of Chikungunya Virus Outbreaks on Blood Transfusion

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is responsible for large periodic epidemics in both endemic and nonendemic areas where competent mosquitoes are present. Transmission of CHIKV by transfusion during explosive outbreaks has never been documented, and the true impact of CHIKV infection on blood transfusion during an outbreak is unknown. Considerations include not only transfusions in the active outbreak areas but also returning travelers to nonendemic areas. Because there are no documented cases of transfusion-transmitted CHIKV, there are no standard guidelines regarding transfusion policies during a chikungunya fever outbreak. We review current information from studies during outbreaks with the goal of estimating the potential effect of different blood safety interventions (eg, querying donors for possible CHIKV exposure, chikungunya fever–related symptoms, screening for CHIKV RNA).