CHARLOTTE -- The spread of this year’s flu virus is taking a toll on blood donation according to doctors and leaders of Charlotte area blood centers.
The Community Blood Center of the Carolinas says each year around this time it sees a drop in the number of blood donors as people get back in gear following the holiday season. But the spread of the flu in 2015 is making things even worse. They’re down by almost 400 units of blood for the month.
“We have crossed over into what we are referring to as a very serious shortage” said Adam Eberhart, Community Relations Coordinator for the blood center. “So we were already short. And now we're even shorter... because our regular donors can't come in to donate” he said.
Health experts say people with the flu should not donate blood. Dr. Charles Bregier of Novant Health says there is no medical evidence that someone who receives blood donated by someone with the flu can themselves catch it, its recommended that people who are sick wait until they are fully healthy to donate.
“If you have the flu and you're feeling bad and you give blood, that depletes your blood volume more. You are already kind of feeling kind of bad. It'll just probably make you feel even worse” he says.
Leaders here at the Blood Center say often people won't donate because they believe they don't qualify. But that's not always the case and restrictions for donation are no longer as strict as they once were.
“They'll think you don't need my blood, you don't want my blood. I'm on too many medications. I've got high blood pressure, high cholesterol, I'm diabetic. Those are all false, we are in need of all blood types” said Eberhart.
If you would like to learn more about the Community Blood Center of the Carolinas, visit http://www.cbcc.us/
To see a list of frequently asked questions by prospective blood donors, click here : http://www.cbcc.us/donate-blood/blood-donation-faqs