To the editor: This text (“Chagas illness, lengthy thought-about solely a risk overseas, is established in California and the Southern U.S.,” Sept. 1) states that “most individuals discover out they’ve the illness solely after making an attempt to donate blood.” It isn’t frequently checked for in routine well being screenings. Along with Chagas, American Purple Cross additionally screens blood donations for different infectious ailments together with HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, Syphilis, West Nile virus and Zika virus, together with different assessments of a donor’s well being similar to sickle cell for African American donors. If any of those are found, the Purple Cross will contact the donor, suggest they see their physician and supply the findings to the physician.
My level? A blood donor could not solely save the life of somebody who wants blood. They could additionally save their very own.
Larry Macedo, West Hills
