WHO Epidemiological Brief 3: Tajikistan polio outbreak and regional response

As of 12 July 2010, Tajikistan had reported 413 laboratory-confirmed cases of wild poliovirus type 1, with 19 deaths (4.6%). The latest confirmed poliomyelitis (polio) cases had disease onset on 6 June 2010. Six cases had been laboratory confirmed for wild poliovirus type 1 in the Russian Federation, the only country outside Tajikistan to confirm cases.

Four rounds of national immunization days (NIDs) in Tajikistan and three rounds in Uzbekistan had occurred. In both countries coverage was extremely high and confirmed by independent monitors. The first round of nationwide NIDs started in Turkmenistan on 12 July 2010, and Kyrgyzstan will start its first round on 19 July.