On July 15, 2016, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and
Control published a guide for the preparation and implementation
of a national preparedness plan for the safety of substances of
human origin ("SoHO"), such as blood, tissue, and cells,
in the event of a Zika virus outbreak in Europe. Zika virus is
mainly transmitted to humans through mosquitoes but can potentially
also be transmitted through SoHO. The activities set out in this
guide aim to assist the Member States in decision-making on how to
assess and manage the risks posed by Zika to the safety of SoHO.
The guide identifies concrete activities to be considered at the
local, national, and EU levels.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
