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The White House said the shutdown was recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention after the four cases of measles were diagnosed.
“Operation Allies Welcome flights to the United States have been temporarily suspended at the request of the CDC and out of caution due to four diagnosed cases of measles among Afghans recently arrived in the United States,” the attaché said. White House Press Officer Jen Psaki. told reporters.
She did not specify where the cases were. Flights of Afghans arrive in the United States from military bases in Germany and Qatar. Many are operated by commercial carriers.
“Immediately after notification of the suspected case, the guest was placed in isolation and guests at risk of exposure were placed in quarantine. Post-exposure vaccination was also provided to those at risk and contact tracing was carried out. Since the case was identified, no other guest has been diagnosed with measles, “the statement said.
Psaki said people with measles were being quarantined according to public health guidelines and contact tracing had started. She said arriving Afghans must be vaccinated against measles as a condition of entry into the United States.
The measles, mumps and rubella vaccine is currently being given to Afghans at military facilities in the United States, Psaki said. She added that the administration was exploring measures to vaccinate people in places overseas.
Individuals are also offered Covid-19 vaccines and tests for the virus.
Since August 17, about 60,000 people have arrived in the United States as part of Operation Allies Welcome, the Department of Homeland Security said on Wednesday.
Of these arrivals, 11% are US citizens, 6% are lawful permanent residents of the United States, 83% are other “Afghans at risk”, including holders of special immigrant visas and other visa holders, SIV applicants and others. The group also includes a small number of third country nationals who have also been evacuated and treated, DHS said.
There are currently more than 40,000 Afghans at eight military installations in the United States, and that number is expected to increase as more and more Afghans complete their screening overseas and are brought to the United States.
The Inspector General of the Ministry of Defense is currently assessing the military process of screening and tracking Afghan evacuees this month, including those identified as posing a security risk.
This story was updated with additional details on Friday.
CNN’s Jamie Gumbrecht, Maegan Vazquez and Oren Liebermann contributed to this report.
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