KABUL: The United States has announced a temporary halt to evacuation flights after four cases of measles surfaced in Afghanistan.
According to the International News Agency, White House spokeswoman Jane Sackie said that during the evacuation of American citizens and those working for the United States from Afghanistan, there have been 4 cases of measles among the guests.
Spokeswoman Jane Sackie added that further evacuation flights have been temporarily suspended on the recommendation of the Center for Disease Control following the outbreak of measles cases. Those who have come have been quarantined and it remains to be seen who the people with measles will meet.
Jane Sackie said all Afghans arriving in the United States need to be vaccinated, while steps are being taken to vaccinate those arriving in the United States on transit flights at any stop along the way.
Currently, thousands of Afghans have arrived in Germany, Qatar, Spain and other countries on transit flights and are staying temporarily at military bases there, after which they will be transferred to the United States.
A White House spokesman did not say how long the suspension would last.
US officials claim that 100,000 Afghans have been repatriated since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, while another 50,000 are planned to be evacuated.
