Flu Outbreak Leads to Blood Shortage

A flu outbreak that walloped many parts of the country harder and earlier than usual is having an unexpected side effect: a nationwide blood shortage that is leaving blood banks from New York to Los Angeles with just one- or two-day supplies. The annual drop in donations that hurts blood banks every December, when people are busy preparing for the holidays, was worse than usual because of fear of consequences of Y2K-related problems, said Linda Levi, spokeswoman for the New York Blood Center. Then the flu season, which hit early, kept potential donors home at the beginning of this month, just when blood banks usually replenish their supplies.