The risk is extremely low and further reduced by our deferrals which are outlined below:

Travel to an area where confirmed local transmission of Zika virus has occurred:  The Blood Service has existing travel deferrals for travel to countries with at risk mosquito borne diseases that restrict donation types allowed. To date, all countries with local vector Zika virus transmission are covered by existing deferrals. These deferrals allow a plasma for fractionation donation only for a minimum of 28 days post return.  Donors cannot donate whole blood, clinical plasma or platelets by apheresis during this period. The period of the deferral for the particular country visited can be accessed here.

Confirmed Zika virus infection: A donor diagnosed with Zika virus cannot donate blood until they are fully recovered and a four month deferral period has passed.

Sexual contact with a confirmed Zika virus infection:  Donation is not possible for four weeks after sexual contact with someone who has current Zika virus infection or has recovered from Zika virus infection in the preceding six months. This deferral covers the extended duration of shedding in semen and the risk of transmission by sexual contact. What this means practically is if sexual contact is a ‘one-off’ the deferral is four weeks. If the sexual contact is with a regular partner, the donor would be unable to donate blood for seven months after their sexual partner recovered from Zika virus infection (six months plus the four week deferral).

In the event of local transmission in Australia: To date local transmission has not occurred. If this occurs the Blood Service will implement an outbreak area deferral that would restrict donors who have been in the outbreak area to plasma for fractionation for 28 days post exposure.