Flu causing lower blood donor turnout in Austin, across Texas

AUSTIN (KXAN) — Blood donor turnout has dipped in Texas, and experts blame the flu.
At Hendrick Medical Center in Abilene, blood banks and blood drives are drying up.
“There are just a lot of sick donors right now,” said Frances Baker, donor recruiter at Abilene’s Meek Blood Center, which serves 17 area hospitals within a roughly 150-mile radius.
“We’re in critical need right now,” she said. “Our blood inventory is extremely low and we’v