Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is barring thousands of military members and their families from donating blood, starting next week, as a new precaution against mad cow disease.
The Pentagon said Friday the restriction is in line with guidance from the Food and Drug Administration. It will disqualify an estimated 18 percent of the active-duty force, or about 250,000 people.
Dr. Jarrett Clinton, the acting assistant secretary of defense for health affairs, said that starting Sept. 14, several new categories of people will be barred from donating blood. They are:
Clinton said these were precautionary measures against "the very small theoretical risk" of the human form of mad cow disease.
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