There are many reasons people can't donate blood but one of the big reasons is because they have travelled to malaria zones.
Jocasta and Philip Norman learned they would have to put their blood donation on hold after they went on a Mexican vacation. "We were told since we have been to the Mayan Riviera we were ineligible because of the malaria policy," says Jocasta.
"If you've travelled to a malaria zone, it's a year away from donating whole blood. However, after six months you can donate plasma," explains Robyn Bobawsky, a spokesperson for Canadian Blood Services.
The reason for the rule is because the disease can be transmitted through blood and there is no way, yet, to screen for it.
There are tests that exist for malaria, but the medical testing is not always accurate.
There are over 100 countries where malaria is currently endemic including the popular Canadian tourist destinations of Jamaica, The Dominican Republic and parts of Mexico.
For more information on other exclusions, click on the link for Canadian Blood Services.
