The Nation - News from Nov. 11, 1987

A survey of 40,000 blood donors has found 10 carriers of a cancer-causing virus, prompting American Red Cross officials to recommend that all blood donated for transfusions be screened. The virus is HTLV-1, which causes leukemia and a paralyzing nerve disease and is similar to the AIDS virus. The survey was conducted in six U.S. cities, Dr. Gerald Sandler, associate vice president of the American Red Cross, said. Screening should be started as soon as a reliable test for the virus can be licensed by the government, said Sandler, whose comments were reported in the Atlanta Constitution.