4 people died after giving plasma in the last decade, 3 of them in Manitoba: Health Canada
CBC
Four people in the last decade have died in Canada after giving plasma, and three of those deaths happened in Manitoba, Health Canada says.
The information comes after a CBC News investigation learned two of these deaths were reported to the federal regulator within four months of each other — one in October and another on Jan. 30.
One of the four deaths happened in Quebec. Health Canada did not say when that death, or the other Manitoba death, occurred.
All establishments that collect plasma must report to the federal regulator if a donor has experienced a serious reaction during donation or in the 72 hours following a donation.
One of the people who died was Rodiyat Alabede, 22. She died on Oct. 25 after she went to an appointment at the Grifols Plasma Donation Centre on Taylor Avenue to give plasma, her friends said.
Doctors told her friends her heart stopped at the centre and she couldn't be revived.
Little is known about the other person who died recently in Winnipeg, other than it happened this January after giving plasma at Grifols' other location, on Innovation Drive.
Health Canada did not provide dates or specific locations of the two fatal reactions CBC hadn't already reported on. CBC requested all fatal adverse reactions from Jan. 1, 2016, to present.
The fact three out of the four deaths reported to Health Canada in the past decade were in Manitoba needs to be carefully investigated, said Dr. Ryan Zarychanski, a Manitoba hematologist who specializes in blood disorders.
"It's concerning, and an investigation to thoroughly understand what happened in those instances needs to occur,” he said.
Zarychanski pointed out that deaths after plasma donation are exceedingly rare.
“When rare things cluster like this, it absolutely gives people a cause to pause and understand what is going on. Are protocols being followed? Is training occurring? Is there proper oversight and donor selection, as a policy would intend?” Zarychanski said.
“I think we have to hesitate before jumping to conclusions. But certainly, there's a reason to look into these very carefully,” he said.
Grifols, a Spain-based company that specializes in producing plasma medicines, has over a dozen plasma collection centres in Canada.
Canadian potatoes could soon reach the Mexican market.
The Alberta government — for the first time — will partially fund the construction and expansion of independent schools in an attempt to create more student spaces.
The Northwest Territories Power Corporation says the Taltson hydro facility is back in service.
Three world leaders — two of them members of the G7 — stood united in opposition Friday to the Trump administration's decision to ease sanctions on Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers.
A boil water advisory has been issued by Alberta Health Services (AHS) for approximately 500 homes and businesses located in the southwest community of Spruce Cliff, and some areas of Wildwood and Rosscarrock, effective immediately.
Four people in the last decade have died in Canada after giving plasma, and three of those deaths happened in Manitoba, Health Canada says.
The Ontario government has served notice it will cut funding to at least two drug consumption sites in Toronto.
Premier Rob Lantz, Health Minister Cory Deagle and members of the Medical Society of P.E.I. met behind closed doors Thursday in downtown Charlottetown.
Parks Canada is banning boats and other watercraft on several popular lakes and rivers in Banff National Park starting this spring to prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species.
Equipment staging has begun to build a 214 km, $77-million all-season access road to the proposed Coffee Gold mine.
The Canadian economy lost more jobs in February than it has in a single month in the last four years — but Prime Minister Mark Carney says when compared to the United States, we're doing pretty good.
A judge has ruled against a bid for an injunction that sought to pause provincial legislation that forced thousands of striking Alberta school teachers back to work last year.
After a months-long fight with his landlord, Shannon Lucas accepted a $40,000 payout to move out of a North Bay, Ont., townhouse, but says he would give it all back if he could stay.