KUWAIT CITY, Feb 28, (KUNA): Kuwait Central Blood Bank (KCBB) announced that a certain policy is being followed up to deal with Zika virus, in accordance with recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and reports issued by US blood banks.

In a press statement on Sunday, Dr Reem Al-Radhwan, head of blood transfusion department, said the policy depends on some criteria and awareness campaigns provided to donors and receivers at hospitals. She stressed that there is an approval of new measures to control the virus, urging donors who travelled to Mexico, the Caribbean islands, South America and Central America to donate after the passing of 28 days since they retuned home. She noted that symptoms of Zika are fever, rash, joint pain, conjunctivitis and headache.

Al-Radhwan said all symptoms are not acute, indicating that the virus is rapidly spreading in the Western Hemisphere except for the US and Canada. The KCBB, which was founded in 1965, is the first one in the Middle East. It aims to save blood of donors to be used if necessary.