CDC’s Response to Afghan Evacuees

The United States government is resettling U.S. citizens and Afghanistan nationals from Afghanistan. This humanitarian effort, called Operation Allies Welcomeexternal icon, is being led by the Department of Homeland Security. Approximately 124,000 people, including about 6,000 American citizens, have been safely flown out of Afghanistan. Many of the evacuees are from areas with limited access to healthcare and vaccinations and have been living in close quarters for long periods of time during the evacuation process, thereby raising the risk of disease spread.

CDC and other government agencies are taking precautions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases during this resettlement process. Evacuees, including those who have already arrived in the United States and those arriving after they receive vaccinations, will undergo medical screenings for contagious diseases and receive medical care if needed. Evacuees who are already in the United States who have not previously been vaccinated will receive vaccinations for measles, mumps, rubella (MMR), polio, chickenpox, and COVID-19. Evacuees will also be screened for tuberculosis. These measures are being taken to protect the health of evacuees and prevent the introduction and spread of infectious diseases in the United States.

Resources

Partner Resources

NRC-RIM: COVID-19 Communication Resources in Afghan Native Languages from the National Resource Center for Refugees, Immigrants, and Migrantsexternal icon

Benefits for Afghan Humanitarian Parolees (HHS) pdf icon[PDF – 2 pages]external icon