SYDNEY, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Climate change is set to significantly disrupt global blood supplies, with Australia particularly vulnerable to the effects of extreme weather, rising disease rates, and shifting donor health patterns, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood said on Thursday.

Climate-related disasters such as floods, fires, and cyclones are increasingly jeopardizing blood donation and supply chains, according to the joint study by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC).

The study, published in The Lancet Planetary Health, follows the aftermath of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred last month, which led to over 3,500 cancelled blood donation appointments in New South Wales and Queensland, one of the largest disruptions of its kind in Australian history.

"As well as limiting the mobility of large numbers of people, these events disrupt the storage, safety, and transportation of blood which has a short shelf life," said Elvina Viennet, Lifeblood researcher and adjunct fellow at UniSC, adding that climate disasters can create surges in blood demand due to injuries or hospital emergencies.

The study also raises concerns about the growing threat of mosquito-borne diseases, like Dengue Fever, West Nile Virus, and Japanese Encephalitis, as warmer and wetter climates enable these illnesses to spread to new regions.

As populations migrate due to rising sea levels and environmental pressures, ensuring a diverse donor base becomes increasingly important to match patient needs, said UniSC Associate Professor Helen Faddy, the study's lead researcher.

To safeguard blood supplies, the researchers urge governments and health services to invest in climate-resilient infrastructure and apply innovative solutions like drone delivery of blood, surgical cell salvage, and "walking blood banks" that collect blood on-site during crises. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)