The Latest: OneBlood starts Zika testing for all supplies

MIAMI – The Latest on blood donations and the Zika virus (all times local):

4 p.m.

Officials at Florida’s main supplier of blood say they’ll begin testing all blood collections for the Zika virus using an investigational donor screening test.

In a statement Thursday, OneBlood said it was working as quickly as possible to comply with an “unanticipated” request from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The FDA wants to suspend all blood donations in two South Florida counties investigating mysterious cases of Zika infection that may be the first spread by mosquitoes on the U.S. mainland.

OneBlood will start testing all their collections for Zika starting Friday. According to the statement, OneBlood suspended collections earlier this week in the areas of Miami-Dade and Broward counties being investigated.

Florida health officials have said the four infections may not be linked to travel, but they haven’t confirmed how the virus spread.

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1:45 p.m.

Federal authorities want to suspend blood donations in Florida counties investigating four mysterious cases of Zika infection that may be the first spread by mosquitoes on the U.S. mainland.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on its website asks blood centres in Miami-Dade and Broward counties to immediately stop collecting blood until each unit of blood can be screened for the virus.

Florida health officials have said the infections may not be linked to travel outside the U.S., but they haven’t confirmed how the virus spread.

The FDA also recommended that neighbouring counties implement the same precautions “to help maintain the safety of the blood supply as soon as possible.” Visitors to the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas in the last month are being urged to defer donations.