The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are closely monitoring an outbreak of respiratory illness caused by a new coronavirus first identified in Wuhan, China. The new coronavirus (scientific identifier: 2019-nCoV) has resulted in thousands of confirmed cases in China; additional cases have been identified in other countries. As of February 3, 2020, the CDC had confirmed eleven cases of coronavirus infection in the United States. You can find comprehensive information about the CDC鈥檚 investigations and updates about coronavirus on a dedicated page of the CDC website.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates blood and blood products, is also monitoring the coronavirus outbreak. On February 4, 2020, FDA posted a statement that:
The potential for transmission of 2019-nCoV by blood and blood components is unknown at this time.聽However, respiratory viruses, in general, are not known to be transmitted by blood transfusion, and there have been no reported cases of transfusion-transmitted coronavirus. . . Routine blood donor screening measures that are already in place should prevent individuals with clinical respiratory infections from donating blood.
The Plasma Protein Therapeutics Association (an international trade association that represents manufacturers of plasma-derived treatments, including plasma-derived clotting factor products) released a statement concluding that:
Based on strict screening procedures for plasma donors and the established processes of virus inactivation and removal during manufacturing of plasma-derived products, . . . the 2019-nCoV is not a concern for the safety margins of plasma protein therapies manufactured by PPTA member companies.
You can read PPTA鈥檚 full statement here.
HFA will stay in contact with federal regulators and with PPTA and will continue to monitor the situation and release updates as they become available.
HFA encourages you to speak with your doctors if you have any medical concerns about coronavirus and/or your treatment.