Blood supply shortage hits southeast China amid cold weather, approach of Spring Festival

Blood supplies in southeast China's Fujian Province have fallen as cold weather has discouraged people to donate, local officials said Wednesday.

The approach of the Spring Festival, China's most important holiday, has aggravated the problem, said Zeng Jia, an official with the provincial blood center.

"Few are willing to donate blood in such cold weather, and many non-local people have gone home for the Spring Festival," said Zeng.

The number of donors in the provincial capital Fuzhou has halved compared to the same period of last year. Type-O blood supplies are enough for only four days.

"Yesterday morning we had only four donors. The day before yesterday we had one," Zeng said.

A similar situation has developed in other provinces and regions that have suffered cold snaps, including Yunnan, Guangxi and Xinjiang.

The Spring Festival -- the first day of the first Chinese lunar month -- falls on Feb. 3 this year, about two weeks earlier than last year.

The last blood shortage in China occurred in September and early October last year. The situation eased after the Red Cross Society of China launched an urgent appeal. Health Minister Chen Zhu donated blood in late October.

Source: Xinhua