Emerging infections: horizon scanning
The NHSBT/PHE epidemiology unit scans publications for emerging infection news relevant to blood, tissue and organ donation safety in the UK.
The joint NHS Blood and Transplant / Public Health England Epidemiology Unit scans publications for news of emerging infection relevant to blood, tissue and organ donation safety in the UK.
The unit scans various sources, using a formal horizon scanning system, for news of emerging infections that may be of relevance to patient safety or blood and tissue availability. Of particular interest are imported infections to the UK and European and global updates on:
- babesia
- chikungunya
- Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever
- dengue
- malaria
- pandemic and avian influenza
- tick-borne encephalitis
- West Nile virus
- Zika
Sources scanned for the report include:
- PHE’s monthly Emerging Infections Summary
- PHE epidemiological updates
- National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) clinical updates
- European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) weekly reports, risk assessments, and epidemiological updates
- Program for Monitoring Emerging Diseases (ProMED) outbreak and news alerts
- peer reviewed literature
Relevant items are collated into a monthly listing for the Chair of the UK Standing Advisory Committee on Transfusion Transmitted Infection (SACTTI). The chair of SACTTI also receives early warning communications or other reports deemed urgent as they arise.
These monthly listings, alongside other sources of information, are reviewed by SACTTI and may lead to further risk assessment and changes to the donor selection guidelines, or other blood safety measures, where necessary.
View the JPAC position statement on emerging infections
See more information on the joint NHS Blood and Transplant / Public Health England Epidemiology Unit
Contact epidemiology@nhsbt.nhs.uk for further information.