Bengaluru falls short of platelets amidst increasing dengue cases

Amidst the increasing number of dengue cases being reported in Bengaluru, there is a growing scarcity of platelets.

This has prompted numerous blood banks to organize blood donation drives in an effort to address this shortfall.

While the demand for this crucial blood component continues to rise, experts are advising that platelet transfusions may not necessarily reduce the risk of hemorrhage.

They suggest that whole blood or red blood cell (RBC) transfusions could provide more effective alternatives.

Dr. Sumithra P, the Chief Medical Officer at the Rashtrotthana Blood Centre in Gavipuram Guttahalli, expressed the severity of the platelet shortage.

She said, "We are facing an acute shortage of platelets. The demand for single-donor as well as random-donor platelets has shot up sharply. We are receiving requests for 15-20 units of single-donor platelets and up to 150 units of random-donor platelets a day," as quoted by Times of India. 

The latest guidelines from the World Health Organization (WHO) no longer insist on platelet transfusion for dengue cases. The guidelines recommend whole blood products if signs of hemorrhage are present.

Bengaluru has witnessed an 'unusual surge' in dengue cases during 2023, with a total of 4,979 cases reported as of September 8, according to Dr. Mahmood Shariff, the Deputy Director of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme, as told to Times of India.

Dr. Shariff also highlighted a gradual increase in dengue cases year-on-year, particularly during the transmission season from April to October, emphasizing the importance of implementing preventive measures at appropriate levels.

Fortunately, the incidence of other vector-borne diseases in the city remains well under control.