US on Measles Alert Due to Afghan Refugees... Temporary Suspension of Refugee Entry

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] It has been reported that the entry of refugees has been temporarily suspended after measles outbreaks occurred among some Afghan refugees who escaped Afghanistan and entered the United States.

According to the Associated Press on the 14th (local time), six Afghan refugees housed in Virginia and Wisconsin were diagnosed with measles. Earlier, on the 10th, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported measles cases among some Afghan entrants and, following the recommendation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), temporarily suspended their entry into the United States.

At Fort McCoy base in Wisconsin, which currently houses about 8,000 refugees, one resident was confirmed to have measles on the 5th. The base stated that symptoms were identified shortly after the confirmed case arrived at the base on the 4th, that the individual is in isolation, and that those who potentially had contact have been vaccinated against measles.

In Virginia, three measles cases were reported on the 10th, and as of this date, the number of patients has increased to five. Virginia health authorities are reportedly tracing potential contacts, including at Dulles International Airport and two local hospitals.

Measles is a highly contagious viral disease characterized by a combination of fever, runny nose, conjunctivitis, and erythematous spots. In the United States, most citizens are vaccinated, making it a rare infectious disease; however, residents of impoverished countries such as Afghanistan are known to commonly suffer from it due to lack of vaccination.

The AP reported that according to U.S. government documents, authorities noted that this suspension of entry could seriously affect Ramstein Air Base in Germany, one of the main reception centers for Afghan refugees. The AP also mentioned the possibility of suspending entry from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.