What is my blood group (A, B, AB or O) and its rhesus factor (+ or -)?
This is a question that we are far from asking ourselves on a daily basis and that we would never like to ask ourselves when traveling.
Until a serious injury, following a road accident for example, presents us with a fait accompli.
An operation can sometimes lead to an emergency blood transfusion.
Problem: your destination country may no longer have enough blood supplies compatible with yours.
Thus, in Southeast Asia, rhesus (Rh) negative blood groups are extremely rare.
Less than 0.5% of the population of Thailand, Laos or Cambodia are carriers, compared to 15% in the European population, according to the Red Cross.
In China, rhesus negative is almost non-existent, to the point of being nicknamed "Panda Blood" in reference to the rarity of the animal in the country.
"
We speak of rare blood when it is found in less than 4
out of 1000 people, or 0.4
%
of the population"
, recalls Jacques Chiaroni, professor of hematology specializing in rare blood and director of the French Blood Establishment. (EFS) of the Paca and Corsica regions.
In France alone, of the 380 blood group antigens identified, 250 correspond to these rarity criteria.
This would concern 700,000 individuals, mainly from the African continent, the Antilles and the Indian Ocean.
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Tourists urged to donate blood
The lack of donors can have concrete consequences in the event of hospitalization abroad.
"
Negative blood stocks are extremely low in Thailand
", alarmed the
Bangkok Post
in an article published in February 2023. The situation is particularly critical in Phuket where the numerous road accidents since the beginning of the year are dangerously reducing stocks. transfusion bags.
"
There is an adequate supply of blood for use in the medical system, with the exception of Rh negative blood
," Thai Red Cross adviser Dr Issrang Nuchprayoon
told
The Telegraph .
In this context, the health authorities of Asian countries regularly launch collection campaigns for Western travellers.
"
Making a donation is a gesture that saves lives, especially if you carry blood that is highly sought after in the country visited
," insists Prof. Jacques Chiaroni.
It is quite possible, as a tourist, to show up spontaneously at a donation center abroad.
Speaking the local language or English is essential in order to carry out the preliminary medical interview.
In addition, legislation on contraindications may vary from country to country.
»
Blood donation and travel: what you need to know
If you are a frequent traveler, you may have to wait several months after your return to France to be able to give blood.
Contraindications may indeed exist depending on the countries recently visited and the viruses circulating there (dengue fever, malaria, Zika, etc.), but also depending on your medical history.
They are detailed on the EFS website.
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A matter of genetics
“
The problem of rare bloods arises all over the world.
A blood group may not be found in one geographical area and be quite common in another
”, stresses Jacques Chiaroni.
And to give the example of the Duffy blood group.
This is overwhelmingly negative in Central and West Africa, a characteristic that would provide their carrier with better protection against malaria.
Conversely, this group is almost exclusively positive in the rest of the world.
Should we worry about his next vacation on the other side of the world?
Not really.
“
Rare blood bags are subject to a special conservation circuit.
They can be frozen and thus be kept for 30
years, until an emergency justifies their use
, explains Pr. Jacques Chiaroni.
Classic bags, on the other hand, must be used within 42
days.
»
In addition, health institutions around the world are often in contact with embassies and have donor registers in expatriate communities.
The latter can thus be called and mobilized in the event of an emergency.
The Thai press also lists cases of seriously injured tourists who were saved thanks to calls for help launched on social networks.
All the same, it remains to be hoped that no serious accident will spoil your next vacation.
