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Date: Friday, July 3, 1997
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Lenore Gelb: 301­443­3285, Broadcast Media:  301­827­3434, 
Consumer Hotline: 800­532­4440

Recall Of Blood Products In Six States Due To Risk Of Tick­Borne Illnesses
The Food and Drug Administration is advising the public about a voluntary recall of certain blood products collected by United Blood Services (UBS), also known as Blood Systems Inc. (BSI) at the Fort Chafee, Arkansas military base. The products are being recalled as a precautionary measure because donors of the products may have been exposed to a tick­borne disease which theoretically may be transmitted through blood transfusions.

Persons exposed to ticks at Fort Chafee between April and September are advised against donating blood or plasma for four weeks after leaving that area. Some of the donors became ill 1­3 days after donating blood. The exposed persons may have one of a number of infectious diseases caused by ticks including ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and possible borrelial infection.

All of these infections cause fever, as well as headache and muscle pain and in some cases, a rash. The majority of infections are asymptomatic or mild, but a small percentage can be serious and even fatal. Doxycycline or other antibiotics can be used effectively to treat the infection if treatment is started as soon as possible.

The blood products involved in the recall were collected during three separate blood drives this summer: May 29, June 11, and June 25. Some of the products that may have been distributed before the problem was identified include red blood cells, platelets and recovered plasma. The following states may have received the recalled blood products: Alabama, Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, and Texas. Approximately 700 blood components may have been distributed before this recall was initiated. The recall involves products collected since April 1997 when the tick season started.

Hospitals should immediately remove these recalled products from inventory and return them to their local UBS blood center. Physicians of patients who received any of the recalled products should be notified. A "Dear Doctor" letter is available from UBS to help advise physicians regarding patient treatment. Recipients of the recalled blood products should be notified and told to report any illnesses to their physicians.

Health professionals should report any adverse events associated with these products to MedWatch, FDA's adverse reporting program, at 1­800­FDA­1088 and to the company. In addition, questions regarding diagnosis or treatment can also be directed to state health departments or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at 404­639­1075.

Note: HHS press releases are available on the World Wide Web at: www.hhs.gov.