WHO Epidemiological Brief 1: Tajikistan polio outbreak and regional response

As of 22 June 2010, Tajikistan had reported 643 acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases; 275 were laboratory confirmed for wild poliovirus type 1, and 60 had been confirmed negative. There had been 14 deaths among the 275 confirmed poliomyelitis (polio) cases (5.1%).Three rounds of national immunization days (NIDs) had taken place in Tajikistan and two rounds in Uzbekistan. In both, coverage was extremely high: over 99% of the targeted populations. Further rounds are expected in both countries, and Kyrgyzstan will begin an immunization campaign in July.