Health · Public Health & Disease · 11 hrs ago
Blood reserves fall below 10,000 units in five German states
The German Red Cross says blood stocks have fallen below 10,000 units across Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and Bremen.
Some supplies may last only two days, particularly for blood groups O positive, O negative and B negative.
Hospitals could soon face restricted supplies, though emergency cases remain covered; planned operations may have to be postponed.
O negative is especially needed because it can be used broadly in emergencies.
The shortage has built up over several months, after a heatwave in June reduced donations, and the approaching cold season could keep some people from donating.
The service needs about 3,000 donations each day to rebuild stocks.
A donation can be separated into components and help save up to three lives.
Blood reserves have fallen below 10,000 units in five German states, according to a German Red Cross spokesperson.
The states are Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and Bremen.
Some supplies of blood may last only two days, and stocks of types O positive, O negative and B negative are especially low.
Hospitals may face restricted supplies, and planned operations could be postponed, although emergency cases remain covered.
The Red Cross says blood services need around 3,000 donations a day to replenish stocks.
- Who
- The German Red Cross says blood reserves are low in five states.
- What
- Supplies have fallen below 10,000 units, with some stocks lasting only two days.
- When
- The report was published on November 1, 2026.
- Where
- Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and Bremen.
- Why
- The shortage has built up over months; the June heatwave reduced donations, and the approaching cold season could keep some people from donating.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A heatwave, with temperatures above 40 degrees, made it harder for blood banks to attract donors.
Blood supplies remained difficult, and the shortage continued to build.
The German Red Cross said reserves in five states had fallen below 10,000 units.
- Reserve threshold
- Below 10,000 units
- States affected
- Thuringia, Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony and Bremen
- Daily donations needed
- Around 3,000
- Lowest stocks
- Some supplies may last only two days
- Urgently needed blood type
- O negative
What people are saying
We are now below the threshold of 10,000 units.
We are grateful for every donor.