Oklahoma Red Cross To Begin Screening Blood Donations For Zika

The American Red Cross will expand testing of donated blood for the Zika virus to Oklahoma next month.

The Red Cross is already testing blood donors for the Zika virus in five states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and South Carolina.

By September 23, the American Red Cross will add five more states, including Oklahoma and Texas.  The other three states will be Arizona, California and New York.

Red Cross news release

Earlier this month, the FDA recommended blood establishments begin screening donations within 12 weeks.

The FDA says the Zika virus typically stays in the blood for 1 to 2 weeks but has been detected up to two months after a person experiences symptoms of the virus.