Blood
donation has almost stopped since rumors circulated that 14 patients received
transfusion of blood from a HIV-infected donor. 
The Ministry of Health and officials of related organizations have
denied any truth in the rumor, insisting that the infection was detected before
the blood could be used, but donors have chosen to stay away.

The
National Center for Blood Analysis (NCBA) has had only 4 or 5 blood donors on
any day last week in place of the usual 100. The result is that the blood
reserve has now come down to meet three days’ average demand. Medical officials
said registered donors are not responding to their request to come and give
blood. N.Yanjindulam, a doctor at the donor recruiting and blood collecting
department, said they went to the Railway Hospital but no one wanted to give
blood. Something like this is unprecedented.  

NCBA Chief P.Ulaankhuu said they had 890 units of blood on Monday but it should
have been at least 1,500 units. There was scarcity of blood at the time of the
MI-8 accident in 2007 and of the July 1 riots in 2008.