British soldiers wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan may have been exposed to contaminated blood, it has emerged. Eighteen seriously injured soldiers were given transfusions using batches of blood sourced from the American military as part of their emergency treatment, the Ministry of Defence said.
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Wounded soldiers in 'contaminated' blood scare - The Independent 10th January 2008
Thursday, January 10, 2008
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1 comments:
Leishmaniasis is a blood borne parasite endemic to Iraq and has been diagnosed in thousands of soldiers and contractors. It likely that thousands more have gone undiagnosed.
The parasite can take up to twenty years to present itself in an otherwise healthy person.
Though it normally transmitted by the bite of a sandfly it is also transmitted sexually, congenitally, and by blood transfusion.
There is NO CURE for this parasite only toxic treatments and it can kill.
Blood transfusions like the ones in this story are perfect for transmitting this bug and there is not a test available for testing the donated blood.
Marcie Clark
www.iraqinfections.org
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