New study predicts how climate change will jeopardise global blood supply: what we can expect in Australia
Climate change will impact the health of blood donors worldwide and increases in disease and natural disasters may trigger a rise in the need for blood, according to a new analysis published in The Lancet Planetary Health.
Research by Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and the University of the Sunshine Coast – published just weeks after Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred led to an unprecedented number of blood donations being cancelled – recommends governments and blood services need to prepare for future climate-related impacts.
Dr Elvina Viennet, Lifeblood researcher and Adjunct Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast warns that future blood supplies will be affected by weather events such as fires and floods, changing patterns of blood-borne diseases like Dengue Fever and other health issues associated with climate change such as blood pressure and “climate anxiety”.
“As well as limiting the mobility of large numbers of people, these events disrupt the storage, safety, and transportation of blood which has a short shelf life,” Dr Viennet said.
“Climate change may impact some infectious diseases that can be transmitted via blood and can prevent people from donating. For example, predictions of increased rainfall and warmer temperatures in certain regions including Australia, could intensify mosquito-borne diseases such as Dengue Fever, West Nile Virus and Malaria, and potentially see them spread to new areas,”
"This research is important because blood and blood product supplies are critical for medical treatments like surgeries, trauma care, and chronic disease management – plus they save lives in emergency situations.”
Lead researcher, UniSC Associate Professor Helen Faddy said the study was the first to globally examine how a changing climate could affect each stage of the blood supply chain, based on a comprehensive literature review of international studies.
Associate Professor Faddy said less obvious health conditions and heat-related illness could reduce people’s eligibility and willingness to give blood.
“We could see new diseases emerge, and other health issues such as blood pressure and hydration, exacerbated by heat, as well as psychological distress and ‘climate anxiety’ impact donors,
“At the same time, shifts in disease prevalence and natural disaster frequency could increase the demand for blood transfusions due to conditions such as pregnancy complications, cardiovascular disease and sickle cell disease.
“We could also face greater difficulty in finding the right blood for patients. With rising sea levels increasing migration rates, it’s essential to have more blood donors from a variety of ethnic backgrounds, and to increase the number of people who give blood.”
The research team said Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred and its aftermath illustrated the impacts natural disasters could have on Australia’s blood supply.
Dr Viennet said more than 3,500 blood donation appointments in New South Wales and on the Queensland coast were cancelled, resulting in a steep drop in the nation’s blood stocks, with many people unable to give, and hospitals stockpiling blood in preparation.
“For the first time here in Australia, we saw a weather event have an unprecedented impact on donations. We’re fortunate to have a stable and safe blood supply, with thousands of people in other states across Australia responding to our urgent call for blood," she said.
“Here in Australia, we're now particularly focused on blood-borne diseases, which can increase after flooding events due to water lying around. This is a concern for the safety and stability of the blood supply as severe flooding continues for parts of Australia,” Dr Viennet said.
“For example, Queensland Health recently confirmed the first detection of the tropical disease Japanese Encephalitis in mosquitoes in Brisbane, and warns that the risk of human exposure may increase following the recent flooding.”
The study recommends governments and blood services can prepare with critical tools such as early warning systems, disease surveillance, flexible approaches to donor eligibility and blood transport in emergencies, hospital preparation, and expanding collection services so donations can be relocated quickly.
Recent global innovations included cell salvage techniques during surgery, the use of drones to transport blood when other transit is disrupted, and walking blood banks, which collect donations at the site of crises.
The paper has been published in The Lancet Planetary Health.
MEDIA CONTACTS
University of Sunshine Coast – Janelle Kirkland – 0424 013 095 or media@usc.edu.au
Jemma Falkenmire, Australian Red Cross Lifeblood – 0419 615 885
