Rare Infection Threatens to Spread in Blood Supply

NY Times ^ | 11/18/03 | Donald G. McNeil Jr

[Lighthouse Lady]

By the way, no one pays for blood anymore. At least not whole blood. There are plasma centers who pay for blood though.
LL

[neverdem]

Thank's a lot. I tried bookmarking an article for the first time, just before I saw your last 2 comments. Thank you again for your reply.

[Lighthouse Lady]

I meant plasma...duh... Plasma centers pay for plasma.
LL
Must be time to go home...

[Conservababe]

You can donate blood for your self (autologous donation) or for someone else (designated donation). You actually do pay more for this service. It is done every day. The other poster was correct, though, in saying that there is no evidence that it is safer to receive a designated donation. It is safe to receive blood from a frequent donor who is tested each and every time.

Well, if it is all the same to you, I would rather receive blood from my brother who I know and can give me his medical history. But, I do know that he is not an addict on any IV drugs, is not homosexual and has not traveled to Mexico, ever. And don't give me that line of testing each and every time. What tests? Can you name them all? It is minimal at best.

[NRA2BFree]

Without crapping in your pants, go see your doc, please.

LOL! Ladies don't do those kind of things. :)

[softengine]

After a decade or more, 10 to 30 percent of them will die when their hearts or intestines, weakened by the disease, explode.

I'm sorry but exploding intestines? Sounds alot like urban legend.

[shaggy eel]

,,, no cure, but there may be revenge.

[PeyersPatches]

Let diseased animals into the herd - the whole herd dies.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

The only routine screening for Chagas now is in the standard set of questions asked of donors — whether they come from or have visited a country where Chagas is endemic and whether they ever slept in a thatched hut.

I have done both. Why wasn't I asked these questions when I donated a year ago?

[Mr. Mojo]

Another reason to control immigration.

Both illegal and legal immigration should be halted (starting right now) for at least 20 to 30 years, to allow time for the third-worlders already here to assimilate and become Americanized. If we do this, and at the same time undertake an immense deportation (of illegals) effort, there's still a chance our republic can be saved.

[neverdem]

Thanks for the link. We don't know what we don't know.

[neverdem]

"I'm sorry but exploding intestines? Sounds alot like urban legend."

I agree it's not a professional description of the various gastro-intestinal manifestations with which the patient may present. How about splenomegaly, intestinal obstruction, volvulus, toxic megacolon or mega-esophagus?

[neverdem]

BTW, did you notice the description in comment# 24?

[softengine]

Saw it. And I am not disputing his statements. Exploding intestines just seemed too incredible to believe.

And then, we have the 'News' [loose term] source to consider.

[neverdem]

"And then, we have the 'News' [loose term] source to consider."

The NY Times didn't get all those Pulitzer Prizes by being a totally politicized lefty rag.

When you read their articles you just have to be aware that there may be a political angle to it. In this case, they failed to appreciate that this could have anti-immigration potential. In typical liberal mode, they tried to generate fear about an unprotected blood supply.

I've read it for decades. It's good to know what the enemy's thinking, although reading their masthead editorials, and certain Op-Ed writers who are so kneejerk liberals, is a waste of time.

[Terridan]

Undocumented workers are NEVER screened... and in Orange County, my nephew recieved word from the High School that he'd been exposed to TB months previous. Our system lets them in WITHOUT screening, until someone, like myself, blows the whistle. It pays to stay involved and call them all on the carpet. The life you save may be your kid's. The government must intervene and prosecute offenders!

[Terridan]

In the city, you can be paid for donating blood.

[Terridan]

God, save our rivers and streams!!! LOL ;)
Can't wait to show my husband and watch him squirm...

[Terridan]

Sounds like the most intelligent idea yet...

[neverdem]

Multi-drug resistant TB, Chagas' Disease, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and C, and other communicable diseases in addition to the terrorist threat have to be stressed ad nauseum. I think other arguments like the Balkanization of society and total social costs get nowhere.