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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Afghans brought to the United States carry viruses such as malaria, measles and tuberculosis, as well as COVID-19.
The health agency said Afghans will need to receive measles vaccines and undergo quarantine. Since last month, the Biden administration has brought in thousands of Afghan nationals after their government collapsed following a Taliban takeover.
On Monday, the agency “was notified by public health departments of 16 cases of measles among the evacuees. All confirmed measles patients have been isolated and treated,” the CDC said, “and their contacts were put. in quarantine Contacts who were not immunized received the MMR vaccine or, if they were not eligible for the vaccine, immunoglobulins. ”MMR refers to the vaccine against measles, mumps and rubella.
“Evacuees who are in the United States must be vaccinated with MMR and undergo a 21-day quarantine from the time of vaccination in places designated by the United States” Safe Haven “, such as military bases” , wrote the CDC.
In addition to measles, tuberculosis and malaria, the CDC said there were concerns about evacuees having an increased likelihood of “shigellosis, giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, hepatitis A, rotavirus and viral diarrheal disease.”
The CDC, according to the statement, is “also aware of some cases of chickenpox, mumps, tuberculosis, malaria, leishmaniasis, hepatitis A and COVID-19 among the evacuees. Although the incidence of COVID in this population has been particularly low, vaccination and COVID testing are provided to all evacuees. “
Military bases where Afghans are housed include Fort Pickett in Virginia, Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, Marine Corps Quantico Base in Virginia, Fort Lee in Virginia, Fort McCoy in Wisconsin, Fort Bliss in Texas, Fort Dix in New Jersey and Camp Atterbury in Indiana.
Starting last month, the US military carried out a chaotic and hasty evacuation as the Taliban took control of the country after US forces withdrew. While a few thousand Americans were reportedly evacuated, many more Afghans were evacuated from the country by military flights.
On Tuesday, the Taliban began appointing other officials in the country’s interim government.
Main Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said Mullah Abdul Qayyum Zakir will be the deputy defense minister, while Sadr Ibrahim has been appointed deputy interior minister. Both men were slated for prominent positions in the new government, but neither were named to the main roster of ministers announced this month.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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