Mosquito-Borne Viruses Add Strain to Luxembourg’s Blood Supply

Luxembourg’s hospitals are warning of possible blood shortages as summer ends, with donor numbers reduced by holidays and new restrictions linked to mosquito-borne illnesses such as dengue and chikungunya. At the same time, the demand for blood transfusions continues to rise.

Blood donations are crucial for hospitals, yet supply often dips during the holiday season. Regular donors are away, and many who return from trips abroad face temporary restrictions before they can donate again. The reason lies in the growing spread of the tiger mosquito, a black-and-white insect that has established itself in several European countries and is capable of carrying tropical viruses.

In countries like France and Italy, cases of dengue fever and chikungunya have already been reported, raising concerns in Luxembourg, where transfusion centres must maintain steady reserves. One long-time blood donor explained that for her, donating has been a vital act of solidarity for nearly three decades – knowing that her contribution could one day save the life of a stranger or even someone in her family.

Dr Andrée Heinricy of the Red Cross Blood Transfusion Centre noted that supplies remained stable through the summer, but with the new school year, demand is expected to climb. She stressed that every eligible donor is needed. Anyone who has spent even a single night in an area where mosquito-borne diseases were detected must wait 28 days before donating, since such viruses cannot yet be screened out of transfusions.

The spread of the tiger mosquito is also tied to climate change. The insect has become established in France, Italy, and Germany, and has already been spotted in both Belgium and Luxembourg. Milder winters allow it to survive in regions where it once could not.

Dr Pit Braquet from the CHL Travel Clinic underlined that Luxembourg has not recorded any local infections so far. Still, he warned that rising temperatures are enabling the insect to expand across Europe, leading to outbreaks in countries where such diseases were previously unknown.

While the risk in Luxembourg is currently considered low, hospitals continue to stress one message: the need for blood is constant, and every donation counts.

Donors can also book appointments directly: Blood Donation - Croix-Rouge luxembourgeoise (EN) - Don du sang

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