Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma

A man in Colorado became infected with West Nile virus through a blood transfusion, despite the fact that the blood he received was screened for the virus, according to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.West Nile virus is most commonly transmitted through mosquito bites, and infection through blood transfusion is rare in the United States because all donated blood is screened for the virus, the CDC says. There have been just 12 reported cases of West Nile virus linked to blood transfusions over the last decade. [See 5 Things You Need to Know About West Nile Virus ]In August 2012, the man had received several units of donated blood as part of a bone marrow transplant for non-Hodgkins lymphoma, a type of immune-system cancer.About 20 days later, the man developed a fever and breathing problems. His blood pressure dropped and his mental state became altered. He later died of encephalitis, or inflammation of the brain that can be caused by West Nile virus.A p...

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