Past Lessons Help Blood Operators Prepare for “Disease X”

If the blood community had a motto, it might be close to that of Scouting America’s: Be Prepared. That is why planning, preparedness, risk assessment and risk reduction for “Disease X” are always top of mind for the experts and organizations tasked with ensuring a safe and sufficient blood supply during the next emerging pathogen event.

“We are judged not on how well we do day to day, but during the emergencies,” said Jed Gorlin, MD, MBA, transfusion service medical director at Hennepin County Medical Center. “People may get annoyed that we are constantly saying ‘donate blood,’ but it is essential to have blood on the shelf. Any time blood is transfused in an emergency, it is blood that was donated at least several days before the emergency occurred. Preparedness is what we are all about.” 

Natural and human factors, such as climate change, human expansion and air travel, are creating an environment more capable than ever to support the next global emerging human pathogen event, and the risk for next emerging infectious disease (EID) is greater than ever. In fact, the World Health Organization has reported that since the 1970s, approximately 40 new infectious diseases have been discovered, including COVID-19, Zika, avian influenza and more.¹ At the same time, risk for re-emerging diseases — such as measles and tuberculosis — has also increased.² Fortunately, there are more tools than ever to help prepare for the next EID.