ST. LOUIS (KMOX) - The influenza season is affecting blood donations across the Ozarks, but what’s it doing to our local supply?

Local American Red Cross spokesman Dan Fox says severe illness such as the flu “can be something that brings donations down,” which could result in fewer supplies, but that is the not the case in the St. Louis area at this time.

“We have seen some of our donors have to cancel appointments to donate blood because of seasonal illness,” he said. “Again, that’s not having an adverse effect on the blood supply right now but we certainly don’t want to get to that point.”

Fox says due to regular winter shortages, there is, however, an urgent need now for O-negative and B-negative blood donors.