Heatwave blood crisis exposes EU’s risky dependence on American plasma

Extreme heat and damaged air quality is reducing blood donations in the US, Europe’s largest external supplier of plasma, as the country’s largest provider of blood faces a national supply crisis. The US Red Cross declared its second-ever national blood supply crisis last week, as heatwave season presents an exacerbated demand for blood products alongside a four-year summer low in supply. The nonprofit quoted poor air quality and widespread food-borne illnesses alongside extreme heat as reasons for the downward trend in donations, resulting in a rationed distribution of type ‘O’ blood to hospitals. As summer brought an increased need for blood for trauma care, distributions to US hospitals were “3,500 units higher per week than expected” earlier in July, the Red Cross said, with the national blood supply falling by 25 percent already in June. January 2022 is the only other time that the US Red Cross declared a national blood crisis, in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Although Europe is self-sufficient in its own supply of blood donations, it is still highly reliant on US plasma, with estimates pointing to a quarter of EU plasma supply coming from the US, with the remaining portion being sourced in EU member states. To read this story, log in or subscribeEnjoy access to all articles and 25 years of archives, comment and gift articles. Become a subscriber for as low as €1,75 per week.Read without limitsAlready a subscriber? Login