Adding Measles to the List of Quarantinable Communicable Diseases
Amends the federal list of quarantinable communicable diseases to add measles, giving public health authorities the legal basis to quarantine individuals exposed to or infected with the disease under existing federal law.
What this order does
What it orders
The order amends Executive Order 13295 — the standing federal list of quarantinable communicable diseases — by inserting "Measles" after "infectious Tuberculosis." The change was made on the recommendation of the Secretary of Health and Human Services, in consultation with the Surgeon General.
The order itself makes no other changes to federal quarantine law, agency authority, or existing programs. Its general provisions clarify that it does not create any enforceable legal right or benefit, does not limit existing agency authority, and is subject to available appropriations.
Who it affects
Individuals exposed to or infected with measles who may be subject to federal quarantine or isolation orders, and public health and border health officers who administer federal quarantine authority under the Public Health Service Act.
Why it matters
By adding measles to the quarantinable diseases list, federal authorities gain explicit legal footing to detain or isolate travelers and others with measles exposure at ports of entry and interstate travel points, closing a gap that previously left measles outside that formal legal framework.
Authority and reach
What this order changes
Amends Executive Order 13295