Tea, coffee, flu to blame as more unhealthy potential blood donors turned away
Coffee and tea have been blamed for causing iron deficiency among Hongkongers - after more potential donors were deemed unfit to give blood owing to the condition that could cause anaemia, according to the Red Cross' Blood Transfusion Service.
Coffee and tea have been blamed for causing iron deficiency among Hongkongers - after more potential donors were deemed unfit to give blood owing to the condition that could cause anaemia, according to the Red Cross' Blood Transfusion Service.
Flu outbreaks this winter also caused 50 per cent more potential donors - some 6,000 people - to be turned away last month compared to January last year, including those who had just recovered from flu or showed symptoms of respiratory infection when they visited the transfusion centre.
It comes as three more people with flu died yesterday, pushing the death toll to 145 so far this year, with 224 needing intensive care.
Dr Lee Cheuk-kwong, consultant of the service, said demand for blood at public hospitals increased by 6 per cent last month compared to January last year.
"I urge more donors to come forward for donation, as it is estimated that around 250,000 bags of blood are needed to cope with the demand of the ageing population," he said yesterday.
Lee added potential blood donors had to be in a fit state, warning more Hongkongers were too "unhealthy" to undergo the process.
