“I was surprised to learn I and other Veterans who had been banned from giving blood are now welcome to once again participate in this potentially lifesaving act,” Zemba said. Zemba is a technical sergeant in the Pennsylvania Air National Guard and served as a pharmacy specialist at the former 2nd General Hospital in Landstuhl from 1986 to 1990.

She is among the thousands of former service members who for decades were told they could not give blood because they were stationed in Germany. Served at hospital in LandstuhlĪrmy Veteran Elizabeth “Liz” Zemba is pictured above. The FDA made the change after finding that there have been no reported cases of the brain disease associated with time spent on U.S. The disease was first recognized there in 1985. bases at the time sourced potentially tainted beef from the United Kingdom.

The fatal disease is believed to be acquired by consuming contaminated beef. Army Veteran Elizabeth “Liz” Zemba, after donating blood.