Babesiosis and Its Significance in Transfusion Medicine from a European Point of View

Persistent <i>Babesia</i> infections pose a significant threat to blood safety, necessitating region-specific risk assessment and mitigation strategies. The substantial difference in prevalence between North American and European blood donor populations highlights the importance of tailored approaches to screening implementation. Enhanced surveillance, novel therapeutic strategies, and comprehensive prevention measures - including advanced diagnostics, tick-avoidance programs, and pathogen reduction technologies - are essential for minimizing the global health burden of persistent babesiosis and protecting vulnerable populations from this emerging transfusion-transmitted threat.