All U.S. blood donations should be tested for Zika: FDA

Federal officials are recommending that all U.S. blood donations be screened for the Zika virus.

The Food and Drug Administration made the recommendation in a Friday news release calling for “universal testing of donated Whole Blood and blood components for Zika virus in the U.S. and its territories.”

The FDA said its move is after “careful consideration of all scientific evidence” and that blood screening for the virus in Florida and Puerto Rico “has shown to be beneficial in identifying donations infected with Zika virus.”

“Expanded testing will continue to reduce the risk for transmission of Zika virus through the U.S. blood supply and will be in effect until the risk of transfusion transmission of Zika virus is reduced,” the agency said.

As of Wednesday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has documented 29 “locally acquired” Zika cases in the United States and 2,487 travel-acquired cases of Zika. An additional 8,968 cases of locally-acquired Zika, meanwhile, have been reported in U.S. territories, compared to 43 that are travel-related.