American Red Cross Implements New Deferral Policy

October 12, 2001— The American Red Cross is implementing a prudent and cautious deferral policy due to the spread of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (vCJD), the human form of "mad cow" disease. This always fatal disease has spread from the United Kingdom to other countries in Europe. There is enormous scientific uncertainty, no blood test and a long latency period (5 to 10 years) before the disease can be detected. There are no known cases of transmission through human blood transfusion, but animal models have shown it is possible to transmit vCJD through blood.

Beginning mid-October, the following people will be restricted from giving blood to the Red Cross:

• Anyone who has lived in the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands) for a cumulative total of three months since 1980 or
• Anyone who has lived in any European country or combination of countries (including the United Kingdom) for a cumulative total of six months since 1980 or
• Anyone who has received a blood transfusion in the United Kingdom since 1980