Polio in Tajikistan – Update

From WHO :

" 23 July 2010 : The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Tajikistan has since 1 January 2010 reported 430 cases of polio following the importation of a wild poliovirus type 1 into the country. Nineteen of the cases were fatal. Seven virologically related cases have been detected in the Russian Federation, the only other country in the WHO European Region to confirm cases. The poliovirus causing the outbreak originated in northern India. This is the first outbreak of polio since the Region was certified polio-free in 2002.

In response to the outbreak, four rounds of national immunization days (NIDs) with oral polio vaccine have been held in Tajikistan. Coverage was reported to be high and confirmed by independent monitors. The most recent round was conducted on 15–19 June (except in Dushanbe and six surrounding regions, where it started on 13 June). Preliminary data report nationwide coverage of 99.3%. Coverage higher than 97% is reported from all regions and in the groups aged 0–6 and 7–15 years.

The most recent polio case had onset on 12 June, and the number of new cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) – of which polio can be one of the causes – being detected and reported to WHO has dropped sharply. However, there is not sufficient virological testing data from the recent AFP cases to revise WHO's assessment of the risk for further international spread, which remains 'high'."

Polio Outbreak In Tajikistan Is Cause For Alarm

Via Medical News Today :

" The rapidly growing polio outbreak in Tajikistan raises serious concerns that the disease could spread to other regions in the world, states an editorial in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). It is imperative that health agencies attempt to limit further spread by ensuring high vaccination rates.

Polio is a serious disease that can cause paralysis and death in both children and adults. However, vaccines had largely eradicated the disease, until vaccination rates dipped below the minimum 90% coverage mark recommended by the WHO. There is no cure for polio - prevention with vaccines is the only defense.

This is the first persistent outbreak of polio in a country that was previously certified to be polio-free. The outbreak represents 75% of the world's polio cases and far exceeds that of India and Nigeria, which are usually the sources of polio outbreaks.

"Too many regions and communities have ceased to worry about polio," writes Dr. Paul Hébert, Editor-in-Chief, CMAJ with Dr. Noni MacDonald, Public Health Editor. "As a consequence, vaccine uptake rates are all too often well below effective prevention levels."

Countries such as the Ukraine and Georgia are below the 90% target, and regions within Canada and some European countries have low community uptake rates. In Ontario, for example, childhood immunization rates are only in the high 70% to low 80% range, comparable to rates in Tajikistan. Concerns about vaccine safety, anti-government views and religious strictures against vaccinations have contributed to this lower uptake."

You can read the original release here at Canadian Medical Association Journal.

WHO : Polio outbreak spreads in Tajikistan

Via Reuters :

" A polio outbreak in Tajikistan has spread, with 108 confirmed cases among children, and more expected, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Tuesday.

The epidemic in the former Soviet republic is the latest setback to the United Nations agency's multi-billion dollar efforts to eradicate the disease worldwide, begun in 1988.

Mass vaccination campaigns are underway in Tajikistan and neighboring Uzbekistan this week to prevent further spreading of the virus, WHO spokeswoman Sona Bari said.

"There are 108 confirmed cases of polio and we will probably see more cases because a number of cases are still pending analysis," she told Reuters.

Twelve Tajik children had died from paralysis, but it was not yet clear whether these were from polio, she said."