Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

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Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

More detail about onset dates. It is thus likely that much of the recent increase in case counts is due to retrospective reporting.

http://translate.googleusercontent....le.com&usg=ALkJrhimplyhgRGV6zewujavKF5yyEjh-g

In Tajikistan, identified 470 people with suspected polio, but the virus outbreak on the decline

27 . 05 . 2010 | 17 : 16 27. 05. 2010 | 17: 16


Dushanbe, May 27. / Corr. ITAR-TASS Galina Gridneva. In Tajikistan, identified 470 people with suspected polio in 139 cases the diagnosis was confirmed. Told reporters today the chief medical officer of the republic Azam Mirzoyev.

"Most people infected - children under six years, but there are teenagers and even one person aged 40 years", - said Mirzoyev. However, according to him, Tajik medical workers, together with specialists from WHO and UNICEF managed to "bring the situation under control, and there is a tendency that an outbreak of wild poliovirus has declined. "We used every day fixed for the republic to 6-7 cases, and in the past few days, we have identified only three suspects to the infection", - stressed Mirzoyev.

Chief Sanitary Doctor of Tajikistan stated that currently the end of the second phase of immunization of children under six years, will begin in early June last, the third stage. The decision to vaccinate the elderly to 16 years. "Problems with drugs will not, - said Mirzoev - today in Dushanbe from France through the UN Children's Fund has received over 6 million doses monovaccines worth 1.1 million dollars." . Total three-stage vaccine will cover 3 million children and adolescents under 16 years.

As stressed in the Ministry of Health of Tajikistan, continues outreach work among the population, especially the southern and western districts of the republic, as well as in Dushanbe, where there are pockets of outbreaks of polio. Medical centers are open at the airports and railway stations.

 

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Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

http://www.interfax.ru/society/txt.asp?id=138881

Russian to English translationShow romanization
28 May 2010 16:02
Between the doctor and the virus
Russian Doctors to the power of persuasion to deal with "irresponsible parents" who do not want to instil in children against polio. Convinced of the opponents of vaccination accused doctors of "real hard pressure"


Moscow. May 28. INTERFAX.RU - The outbreak of poliomyelitis in Tajikistan has resulted in increasing health control in Russia, and the latter has led to violent disputes between physicians and part of the Russians, which is fundamentally against vaccinations. Chief state sanitary doctor, Gennady Onishchenko, the behavior of such parents condemn and promises to convince.


Poliomyelitis - Children's spinal paralysis, a dangerous infectious disease. In early May, an outbreak of this dangerous disease for children was registered in Tajikistan, by the middle of this week the country had already recorded 545 cases, and, according to Onishchenko, "the situation continues to deteriorate." From Tajikistan to Russia each year comes to 1 million people. True, mostly adults - guest workers. Their introduction is locked on entry to Russia is not concerned, yet from Tajikistan to us forbidden to bring a child under 6 years old, dried fruits and nuts. The rest were just checking on the border, where the efforts of sanitary control. The Russians also did not recommend that without undue need to travel to Tajikistan. However, several cases of importation of the disease has revealed. Fortunately, in all cases the children were carriers of the virus, but do not hurt yourself. "Our main task - to protect the country from the importation of infection and prevent the resumption of the circulation of wild virus, which we have eradicated 10 years ago" - said earlier Onishchenko. Another task of physicians - a supplementary immunization in the country. And here they were confronted with the reluctance of parents to teach children.


"In Moscow we have further to vaccinate 5526 children aged from 3 months to 15 years" - Onishchenko said on Friday. According to him, after examining the situation, it became clear that time in Moscow vaccinated against polio were not made for children 5526, in most cases - due to the failure of parents, in some cases - for medical reasons. "The same analysis with the coverage of children against polio made in other regions", - he complained. Parents of high risk of life and health of her child, refusing to make it timely immunized against polio, according to Chief State sanvrach.

"One has to fight and urgently carry out explanatory work. It is irresponsible" - he said.


Parents who do not want to teach children, do it on principle. Some did not go to clinics. "I just do not all have been converted About her son Onishchenko just do not know, we do not go to the clinic," - commented on these figures, one participant LiveJournal community bez_privivok, inhabited by the opponents of infant vaccination.


"It seems to me that most of the objectors and the clinic did not attend, and the child is not listed there - therefore not included in the statistics. And many doctors do not rush yourself" spoil "their statements, so manipulation and cover maps with failures is likely to have the place to be "- agreed another participant discussion.


At the same time in the community complaining about the "war recklessly," which began to doctors. "We are now called, came to the clinic, wrote an additional waiver is for polio, poubezhdali a little bit, but for form's sake," - says mother of Peter. The parent is faced with a similar situation, a curt in assessing actions of doctors: "Just what we called from the clinic and insisted vaccinated against poliomyelitis in the outbreak in Tajikistan. Talked with my wife and told her that he would go home and mandatory (! ) order to instil, I picked up the phone and told them what I think at this point. Then, with me saying "the deputy chief doctor at the children" - as she herself introduced. began to paint horror stories that janitors all Tajiks, the baby will come out and without fail become infected and die or become disabled person (other effects of polio is not the case, the only way! "- she said to me, too). When I was not impressed, they asked me to come in and specifically written waiver of the single inoculation. This is besides the fact that me and so every six months asking to write failures. In general, it is clear that all this is illegal, but the pressure is no joke. "


In general, participants discuss the reaction to the events in Tajikistan, as in an indecent anecdote: "Yes, horror, and nightmare," but not "Oh, horror, nightmare! Horror nightmare. More than five hundred reported cases of the disease in the neighboring republic of principle opponents of vaccination are not afraid: "There are no objective reasons for the epidemic in Russia. She's not in the near future will be. Even what is happening in Tajikistan - the only flash, but did not epidemic "- they believe.

/ Interfax /

 

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Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

Source: http://www.rferl.org/content/feature/2056308.html

New Tajik Polio Outbreak Prompts Swift Measures From Moscow

May 29, 2010
By Bruce Pannier
The reemergence of an old disease in Tajikistan has led to an outbreak of a "polio war" between Moscow and Dushanbe.

The dispute erupted after news emerged in April that the viral disease, which primarily spreads in areas with poor sanitation and can cause paralysis within hours of contraction, had returned to Tajikistan in a big way.

Two deaths resulting from polio have been confirmed in the Central Asian country, although Russian officials have placed the number as high as 15. Some 104 cases of wild poliovirus have been confirmed, and nearly 440 cases of acute flaccid paralysis, the most common sign of polio, have been recorded.

In Russia, where hundreds of thousands of Tajik migrant workers trek for seasonal work, suspected cases have appeared among young children of Tajik migrant laborers in hospitals in Moscow and thousands of kilometers away in Angarsk, Irkutsk Region. These illnesses have led officials to introduce a number of measures to prevent the disease from spreading.

Tajik children less than six years of age, the most likely group to contract the virus, have been barred from entering the country and testing at border points has begun. In another move that threatens to further damage Tajikistan's already battered economy, imports of dried fruit were banned by Moscow.

At the same time, Russian officials, including chief sanitary inspector Gennady Onishchenko, have begun to make alarming statements.

"We should bring our children back from Tajikistan,? Onishchenko said. ?We have more than 1,000 Russian children there, the children of [Russian] officers. They will be leaving."

On May 26, Onishchenko said that a Russian girl who recently returned to St. Petersburg from Tajikistan carried the polio virus with her. Onishchenko said the girl herself was healthy but was a carrier of polio, adding that there are "several" other cases of Russian children recently returned from Tajikistan who are also carriers of the virus.

The WHO's Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which updates its list of polio cases on a weekly basis, had not officially registered a confirmed case in Russia as of May 25.

Onishchenko also said if Tajik authorities do not heed the ban on Tajik children under six traveling to Russia, then Russia's sanitary control agency would take "effective measures."

At least three citizens of Tajikistan, termed "carriers" of polio by Russian health officials, have been deported to Tajikistan since May 26.

Setback For Eradication Efforts

The World Health Organization declared its European region -- which includes Russia and Tajikistan -- polio-free in 2002. Its reemergence is seen as a blow to the WHO's all-out effort launched in 1988 to eradicate the disease from the globe.

In 2009, there were about 1,600 cases of polio recorded in 23 countries, according to the WHO. In Russia the disease had not been seen in 15 years, and no case had been recorded in Tajikistan since 1997.

Tajik Deputy Health Minister Sayeda Jobirova said the reappearance of the disease in Tajikistan came as a surprise. "Many world regions, including Tajikistan, have been free of this disease for the last 10 years,? Jobirova said. ?As research shows, the virus entered our country from outside and it is a so-called ?wild poliomyelitis.??

Officials have claimed that the virus, which is not endemic to Tajikistan, came from India.

Nine cases of polio have been recorded this year in Afghanistan, neighboring Tajikistan. In Uzbekistan, according to the WHO, three cases of acute flaccid paralysis had been recorded along the country's border with Tajikistan as of April, although no poliovirus cases had been confirmed.

Tajikistan's outbreak of polio is so far confined to the Dushanbe and Khatlon areas, which border Uzbekistan.

The outbreak has led Tajikistan and Uzbekistan to coordinate in launching mass immunization campaigns, according to UNICEF. The UN body reports that history shows that three rapid, large-scale campaigns "can quickly stop an outbreak of polio in a previously polio-free country." The third round is planned for the first week of June.

Tajik Deputy Health Minister Aazam Mirzoev, who this week advised Russian sanitary inspector Onishchenko against "politicizing the situation," has blamed the outbreak on a failure to follow up on inoculations.

"Certainly, there are children who missed the opportunity to be vaccinated due to migration from Tajikistan, and inside of the country,? Mirzoev said. ?Some of them have not been vaccinated year after year. They have a role in the outbreak, because they do not have a shield against the disease."

While Tajikistan has a vaccination program in place for polio, Mirzoev notes that migrant laborers sometimes take their families with them to Kazakhstan or Russia and in so doing miss the regular inoculations. Also, he suggests, people in urban areas can miss regular visits or invitations from medical authorities when they change residences.

Information Gap

Polio is a highly contagious and viral illness that can cause difficulty in breathing, paralysis, and death. Early symptoms include fever, sore throat, vomiting, back stiffness, muscle spasms, general fatigue, and headaches.

It can be spread quickly through person-to-person contact, and also through contaminated food and water, and is most often seen in areas with poor sanitary conditions.

Rukhsor Rahim, a Dushanbe resident whose child is thought to have polio, tells RFE/RL's Tajik Service that officials did not provide adequate information to the public. "There was no information about the nature of the disease and what people should do," Rahim said.

One thing that WHO does not recommend doing is imposing restrictions on the international movement of people. But that is nevertheless one of the measures taken by some of Tajikistan's neighbors.

Russia's ban on Tajik children entering the country is the harshest measure, but Uzbekistan also announced this week that it was barring Tajik citizens living in areas bordering Uzbekistan from entering the country.

Meanwhile, there have been reports that Kazakhstan has tightened its border controls with Uzbekistan due to concerns about polio.

Salimjon Aioubov of RFE/RL's Tajik Service contributed to this report

 

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Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

Hat-tip tetano.

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/MYAI-85Z96V/$File/full_report.pdf

[snip]

HIGHLIGHTS
The dates and target population for the next 2 rounds were agreed upon with the MoH and RCIP. The
3rd round will be conducted from 1‐5 June, targeting all children <15 years of age. The schools will be
open (decree from Ministry of Education and due to longer winter school holidays), enabling easy
access to the group of 6 to15 years of age. MoH suggested organizing the 4th round from 15 to 19
June, targeting same age group.
Vaccine (mOPV‐1) for the expanded coverage in rounds three and four arrived on 26 May
2010;(6,350,000 doses) procured by UNICEF from WHO pre‐qualified manufacturer.
The second round of the immunization campaign has been completed; as in the first round starting a
few days earlier in Dushanbe and surrounding districts (14 May). The officially reported coverage
during the 2nd round of the SIA nationwide is 99.4%; estimated coverage of 99.8% in Dushanbe.
Results from first round of Tajikistan’s nation‐wide polio vaccination campaign indicate that 1.134.000
children under 6 were immunized with monovalent oral polio vaccine; 99.6% of the target group.Updated information about the outbreak can be found on the WHO/EURO website (21 May 2010):
http://www.euro.who.int/en/home/sec...test‐polio‐update‐from‐tajikistan‐andcentral‐
asia
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND SURVEILLANCE
As of 25 May 2010, Tajikistan has reported 544 AFP cases of which 139 have been laboratory
confirmed for wild poliovirus type 1. All laboratory‐confirmed cases reported so far are from the south
western part of the country (Dushanbe City and surrounding districts, Khatlon zone and Kulyab zone of
Kurgan‐Tube oblast). Two AFP cases have been reported from Soghd oblast in the north. Confirmed
cases have come from 20 of 58 districts, Dushanbe City, Khudjand City, and Kurgan‐Tube City,.
Virus transmission is sustained by young children, this is reflected by the curves developed last week;
About two thirds of confirmed cases are among children under 6 years of age, whit the rest above that
age group. Of the 139 confirmed wild poliovirus cases, 29 (21%) are less than one year of age, 82 (59%)
are 1‐5 years of age, 20 (14%) cases are between the ages of six and fourteen, and 8 (6%) are 15 years
of age and older.
Information on vaccination history is under investigation, however, it seems most cases have
uncompleted vaccination status.
The last official polio immunization coverage data (2008) report 87% of children under five routinely
immunized. However, there may be a wider immunity gap, particularly in migrants and refugees
populations living in isolated geographical areas that had not been routinely immunized. While the reemergence
of the polio virus in the country, certified polio‐free in 2000, constitutes a major setback
for regional and global efforts to eradicate polio, the cases in Tajikistan have no immediate
implications for the European Region’s certification.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION
All cases start with fever, developing acute flaccid paralysis within 5‐ 7 days of the onset of disease.
Clinicians in the WHO experts team deployed in Tajikistan confirm that the majority of the AFP cases
represent typical clinical picture of polio.
WHO clinical experts have provided two trainings for the health care workers in Dushanbe and Kurgan
– Tybe, addressing the most immediate relevant issues related to the proper management of patients:
• Clinical picture of polio and clinical management of suspected cases ;
• How to identify polio infected children in the districts;
• How to treat Acute Respiratory failure;
• Transportation issues for severely ill polio patients;
• How to organize emergency care at district level hospitals; basics on oxygen‐therapy.

 

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Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

Please delete this post - I put it in the wrong thread.

 

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Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

http://avesta.tj/index.php?newsid=5023

Russian to English translationShow romanization
Yesterday, 16:52 The news was read 246
Russia "oppression of the fingers. What is behind the bold statements Onishchenko and Zhirinovsky?

Dushanbe, June 1 - "Avesta". - | Chapter Rospotrebnadzor, Gennady Onishchenko, called the flood and the death of dozens of people in Tajikistan, God's punishment. "They are a little God, apparently, for something chided with this flood" - said Onishchenko reporters on Thursday. Even earlier, the LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky proposed the creation of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan ninth Southern District of Russia, noting that the republic did not take place as a state.

Commenting on the situation of poliomyelitis in Tajikistan, Onishchenko said: "They are summed up, objectively, this flood ... The rate of increase of cases is not diminished. And they can not report, whether they completed the second round of immunization. He should have been completed yet on May 18. Almost 10 days have passed, but so far they have "no data".

Tajik experts believe that the decisions and statements by the chief health officer of Russia in Tajikistan have been politically motivated.

In an interview with the "Avesta" independent political analyst Saifullo Mullodzhonov said: "In analyzing the statements of some Russian officials, in particular, Vladimir Zhirinovsky, Onishchenko, as well as the Russian press, we can assume that in the last 8-9 months there is an intentional smear of Tajikistan with the aim of exerting pressure by the Government.

"Over the past 18 years, the Russian press has been so critical to Tajikistan, as now. It turns out that the position of some Russian officials, the press and the government of Russia on Tajikistan are one "- he said.

"With regard to polio, he is very serious, and we really need to eliminate it, to the disease has spread to neighboring countries. However, the statement Onishchenko beyond morality. From disease and floods and other natural disasters are not insured by any country. In 1997, our country was an outbreak of typhoid fever, but there was no such dramatic statements or economic blockade from our neighbors and partners ", - stressed Mullodzhonov.

According to experts, Russia all possible and impossible methods of trying to preserve their fleeting influence in Tajikistan. "Relations between Russia and Uzbekistan have changed dramatically after when Tajikistan began to look for partners for the implementation of strategic objects, including Rogun" - he said.

Obstacle transit rail freight in Tajikistan through Uzbekistan, a ban on the import to Russia of the Tajik-dried everything is done in order to influence the foreign policy of Tajikistan - summed Mullodzhonov.

He is supported by another Tajik political analyst, an analyst at the center of "Dialogue" Khikmatullo Sayfullozoda. "In recent years, Gennady Onishchenko, has evaluated some of the events taking place in Tajikistan, and before it imposed a ban on the import of dried fruits, arguing its decision to the fear of polio penetration into the territory of Russia. Although it is proved that the fruits can not be carriers of infectious diseases, in this case of polio ", - said Sayfullozoda. - That, in some perspective, it presents a problem, said that his actions are political forces that have an interest, and thus exerting pressure on Tajikistan.

Commenting on statements Onishchenko about "Judgement", a political scientist, said: "All in God's hands. No one can resist what God sends us. However, the responsible agencies should be ready for all challenges of the disaster. Impact of natural disasters suggest irresponsibility of those in power. In turn, it is unclear what prompted Onishchenko speak with the words of the Judgement, because he, as far as I know, not a priest, and speak like that is not his competence.

Another Tajik expert Mikhail Onishchenko Petrushka reminds that "the floods occur in all countries of the world - and the whole of God's punishment can be regarded as any other natural disaster, do not allocate Tajikistan in this series."

"Unfortunately, it turns out that in all countries of the world where this year's floods have been, or are suffering of innocent people, not irresponsible officials. To paraphrase Onishchenko, I would like to wish that God rebuked negligent officials accountable for their irresponsible attitude to their direct responsibilities, "- said the parsley.

Political analyst Rustam Samiev believes that all these statements and actions of the Russian politicians and gosdeyateley of Tajikistan, passing the scope of permissibility may indicate an attempt to force the Russian authorities attempt to shift power in the country.


This is an abridged version of the publication. Details can be read only paid subscribers IA "Avesta". We will be happy to discuss with you the issue of access to our tape, write to nazorat@gmail.com!

 

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Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

Tajikistan is now listed as 152 confirmed cases, with the latest confirmed case having onset May 8th (likely due to first ill, first tested). The 152 confirmed and 367 pending cases add up to only 519; it is not clear whether the discrepancy between that and the 545 suspect cases reported earlier is due to old numbers, or to negative results (or both).

http://www.polioeradication.org/casecount.asp

Tajikistan and surrounding countries
11 new cases have been confirmed as WPV1, bringing the total number of laboratory-confirmed cases for 2010 to 152 WPV1 cases. However, 367 acute flaccid paralysis cases remain to be tested; meaning the number of laboratory-confirmed cases can be expected to continue to rise significantly. All cases reported to date are from the west/south-west of the country, mostly around Dushanbe City and the Khatlon and Kulyab zones of Kurgan-Tube oblast.
Tajikistan began its emergency outbreak response on 1 May, with NIDs immunizing 1.1 million children under six with mOPV1. The second immunization rounds, conducted on 17 May (in conjunction with Uzbekistan) using mOPV1, reported coverage of 99.4%. The 1-5 June (in conjunction with Uzbekistan and northern Afghanistan) and 15-19 June rounds will be expanded to target all children under 15 years of age, given 12.5% of cases are aged between six and 14. Schools will stay open, as decreed by the Ministry of Education, to enable access to this older group during this round.
WHO's EURO Regional Director and UNICEF Regional Office Europe Deputy Director are visiting Uzbekistan and launched the second SIAs from 1 June. A third round is planned for 5-9 July. Kyrgyzstan will hold its first SIAs on 5 July, while Turkmenistan is also planning two rounds and Kazakhstan one.

 

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Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

The case counts are starting to get a bit funky here, as might be expected. Are the 515 suspects in addition to the 150 confirmed, or do they include it? Just how many cases have been excluded (and why?)? Are they counting suspected cases that are not AFP (i.e. perhaps fever + contact with a confirmed case, or fever + certain travel history...), as the total non-polio AFP rate in Tajikistan is less than one per week.

http://translate.googleusercontent....le.com&usg=ALkJrhi98xtD0ztDD--ZzAvacS48OEVuwA

Ministry of Health warns: Tajikistan has 150 people sick with polio, two died

With suspected dangerous disease registered 515

Russian doctors have registered first in the last 16 years the case of diagnosis of poliomyelitis in Yekaterinburg in the Tajik teenager
Фото: из архива "КП" Photo: from the archives of "KP" Егор АРЕФЬЕВ — 07.06.2010 20:07 Yegor Arefiev - 07/06/2010 20:07

Told the chief medical officer of Tajikistan Azam Mirzoev, in the republic in 515 people suspected of having polio, and in 150 patients with a terrible diagnosis was confirmed.

Two people have already died from illness. This Mirzoev insists that the situation is getting better: "Sitatsiya poliomyelitis in Tajikistan is improving with each passing day, so today from hospital with an outbreak of polio in the country, 273 people on treatment are only about 100 patients, the condition of the others improved, and the diagnosis not confirmed, in connection with which they were discharged from medical institutions. "

Health Ministry of Tajikistan has repeatedly requested the Russian counterparts to resolve the Tajik children to come to Russia, but no reply.

Mirzoyev expressed hope that the ban on entry will be withdrawn after 14 June, when the end of immunization campaigns for children under 6 years, reports RIA Novosti .

 

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Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

And a glimpse of the political spat going on. Good news is that over 80% of the suspects (whatever counts as a suspect) have been discharged.

http://www.slon.ru/news/403872/

Russian to English translationShow romanization

NEWS REUTERS 07.06.10 | 20:05 All news RSS

Dushanbe indignant remarks Onishchenko and Zhirinovsky 0
DUSHANBE (Reuters) - Tajikistan's Foreign Ministry protested the "partisan" speech Rospotrebnadzor head Gennady Onishchenko of the devastating floods in the poorest country in the CIS.

Mudslides triggered by torrential rains have caused the poorest republics in Central Asia damage, authorities estimated $ 600 million. Several dozen people were killed and hundreds were left homeless, and the Republic appealed to the European Union.

Onishchenko, defended at the time Russia on Moldovan wine, Borjomi, "Bush legs" and the Belarusian dairy products, banned in May, imports of nuts and dried fruit from Tajikistan and the Tajik children to enter Russia by an outbreak of polio and later called 'acts of element of "divine retribution" for this Central Asian country.

Official Dushanbe outraged and performance in the Russian media in mid-May, LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky, who proposed to turn into one of the Russian federal districts of Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, he called a "failed state".

Last weekend, Russia's Ambassador to Dushanbe, Yuri Popov was invited to a meeting with Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Khamrokhon Zarifi, during which the latter called the statements by Russian officials and politicians 'biased', caused a "backlash".

"On this issue, the Ambassador was presented with a note of the Ministry" - Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Monday.

Zarifi also asked the Ambassador of Russia to consider the possibility to lift the ban on exports to Russia nuts and dried fruits, because it causes "enormous damage" Tajiks.

Tajikistan claims that the outbreak of polio has declined because of conduct of a comprehensive vaccination, and is now suspected of having the virus in hospitals are only 100 people out of 515 hospitalized since the beginning of the year.

(Roman Kozhevnikov. Shamil Baygin Editor)

 

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Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

New counts, courtesy of the ProMED Russian moderator.

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/apex/..._BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1090,83115

[snip]

Recall that the current
outbreak in Central Asia has been registered in Tajikistan in the second half of April. According to the European Office
World Health Organization, on June 3 in Tajikistan registered 564 cases of acute flaccid paralysis, including 183
of laboratory-confirmed cases caused by wild poliovirus type 1. All laboratory-confirmed cases reported in south-
Western countries and in Dushanbe

 

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Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900SID/ASAZ-868CED?OpenDocument

In Brief: Polio cases decrease sharply in Tajikistan
Source: United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - Integrated Regional Information Networks (IRIN)

Date: 08 Jun 2010


DUSHANBE, 8 June 2010 (IRIN) - The number of polio cases in Tajikistan is sharply lower after an anti-polio immunization drive over the past few weeks, says the country's senior sanitary inspector, Azam Mirzoev.

"The situation is becoming better each day thanks to the [recent] vaccination coverage, which was 99.6 percent," Mirzoev told IRIN in the Tajik capital, Dushanbe. World Health Organization (WHO) officials echoed that view. "Epidemiology observations indicate there is a decrease in the number of reported cases as a consequence of the first rounds of the immunization campaign," Santino Severoni, WHO representative in Tajikistan, told IRIN.

"As of 7 June 2010, Tajikistan had reported 586 cases of acute flaccid paralysis, 183 of which had been laboratory confirmed for wild poliovirus type 1," Severoni said. According to the 21 May epidemiological update on polio from Tajikistan by WHO, there were 129 confirmed poliomyelitis cases, mainly among children under five [http://www.irinnews.org/Report.aspx?ReportId=89258].

The third round for under-sixes ended on 5 June. The last round of the campaign for children between six and 15 will be conducted on 15-19 June, say officials.

rk/at/mw

[END] A selection of IRIN reports are posted on ReliefWeb. Find more IRIN news and analysis at http://www.irinnews.org

Une s?lection d'articles d'IRIN sont publi?s sur ReliefWeb. Trouvez d'autres articles et analyses d'IRIN sur http://www.irinnews.org

This article does not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. Refer to the IRIN copyright page for conditions of use.

Cet article ne refl?te pas n?cessairement les vues des Nations Unies. Voir IRIN droits d'auteur pour les conditions d'utilisation.

 

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Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

183 + 456 = 639, a new AFP count (net of excluded cases). Of note also is that the latest onset date of the confirmed cases is still May 8; much of the recent increase in cases is likely delayed reporting.

http://www.polioeradication.org/casecount.asp

Tajikistan and surrounding countries
31 new cases were reported in the past week, bringing the total number of cases for 2010 to 183. 456 cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) remain pending for laboratory confirmation.
The outbreak now appears to have peaked.
The second NIDs were held on 1-5 June, in conjunction with Uzbekistan. The 15-19 June NIDs will again target all children under 15 years of age (as did the 1-5 June campaign).

 

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Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

http://www.promedmail.org/pls/apex/..._BACK_PAGE,F2400_P1001_PUB_MAIL_ID:1000,83196

Archive Number 20100612.1972
Published Date 12-JUN-2010
Subject PRO/EDR> Poliomyelitis - worldwide (12): Russia, Tajikistan


POLIOMYELITIS - WORLDWIDE (12): RUSSIA, TAJIKISTAN
**************************************************
A ProMED-mail post
<http://www.promedmail.org>
ProMED-mail is a program of the
International Society for Infectious Diseases
<http://www.isid.org>

******
[1] Russia
Date: 10 Jun 2010
Source: Itar Tass [edited]
<http://itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=15213898&PageNum=0>


Polio diagnosis confirmed in 2 Tajik children in Russia's Chelyabinsk region
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Laboratory tests have proved polio diagnosis in 2 Tajik children in
Russia's Urals Chelyabinsk region, the press service of Russia's
consumer rights watchdog (Rospotrebnadzor) South Urals administration
told Itar-Tass on Thursday [10 Jun 2010].

According to the Rospotrebnadzor administration, one of the sick
children was 8 years old, the other one was 17 [years old]. Both were
illegal migrants. One lived in Magnitogorsk, the other in Chelyabinsk.

"The 2 turned for medical help in due time. They were hospitalized in
infectious disease clinics. Later, parents of the 17-year-old patient
took him back to Tajikistan, while the 8-year-old child is still in
hospital, in a satisfactory condition," the press service said.

Neither of the 2 left Russia in 2010 and might have contracted the
disease while staying on the territory of the Chelyabinsk region
through contacts with other Tajik citizens arriving from Tajikistan,
the press service said and added that local health authorities were
taking measures to contain polio hotbeds.

It is highly likely that the local health administration will stage
polio inoculation of all Tajik citizens residing in the Chelyabinsk
region.

These are not the 1st polio cases to be registered in Russia's Urals
region. Previously, poliomyelitis was diagnosed in a 20-year-old Tajik
citizen, who was then hospitalized, and now, according to medics, is
in a stable condition.

The polio situation is worsening both in Tajikistan and Russia. Thus,
according to Rospotrebnadzor, more than 500 polio cases have been
registered in Tajikistan. As of now, 15 polio patients have died.

--
Communicated by:
HealthMap Alerts via ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

******
[2] WHO-EURO update
Date: 3 Jun 2010
Source: WHO EURO website [edited]
<http://www.euro.who.int/en/what-we-do/health-topics/diseases-and-conditions/poliomyelitis/sections/news/2010/7/latest-epidemiological-update-on-polio-outbreak-in-central-asia>


[While this information is more than a week old, the information is
helpful in understanding the current situation and warrants inclusion
in this post. - Mod.MPP]

Latest epidemiological update on polio outbreak in central Asia 3 Jun 2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
As of 1 Jun 2010, Tajikistan had reported 564 cases of acute flaccid
paralysis (AFP), 183 of which had been laboratory confirmed for wild
poliovirus type 1. All laboratory-confirmed cases reported so far are
from the south-western part of the country and the capital, Dushanbe.
The number of cases reported has declined in week 22. 14 AFP cases are
negative for wild poliovirus.

The National Polio Expert Committee of Tajikistan met on 1 Jun 2010 to
review and classify AFP cases. It will continue to meet to ensure that
all cases are appropriately classified.

Tajikistan has concluded 2 nationwide rounds of vaccination, using
monovalent oral polio vaccine type 1 (mOPV1). During the 1st round,
more than 1.1 million children under 6 years of age were immunized:
99.4 percent of the target group. The 2nd round saw a similarly high
coverage rate. The 3rd round of the vaccination programme began on [1
Jun 2010], with a target group expanded to include all children under
15 years of age. A 4th round will be held for this group on 15-19 Jun
2010.

WHO's international expert team in Tajikistan continues to conduct
outbreak investigation and epidemiological assessment, and provides
technical assistance to the Government, along with the United Nations
Children's Fund (UNICEF) and other key partners. The WHO considers
Tajikistan's vaccination programme successful so far, and is working
closely with the Ministry of Health on assessing needs for additional
rounds. A WHO regional reference laboratory in Moscow, Russian
Federation continues to test samples from patients with AFP.

The WHO has sent one of its experts in rehabilitation to assess the
services provided to people affected by polio. He has met with the key
stakeholders and will conclude his assessment with training for
physicians treating these people.

The WHO also works closely with Tajikistan's neighbours in the WHO
European Region (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan)
on prevention and response measures. These countries' governments have
strengthened surveillance, and have begun or will soon begin
vaccination campaigns. With its international partners, the WHO has
sent expert teams to Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to help strengthen
surveillance and to support national and subregional vaccination
activities.

Uzbekistan
----------
In Uzbekistan, 41 AFP cases have been reported since January 2010; 26
are negative for poliovirus, while 15 are pending laboratory results.
With UNICEF and other partners, WHO is helping to implement and
monitor a 3-round national polio vaccination campaign, aiming to reach
almost 2.9 million children under 5 years of age. The 1st round was
held on 17-22 May [2010], and the Uzbek Ministry of Health reported
coverage exceeding the number originally targeted, as the children
vaccinated included some who were not registered with public health
centres before the campaign.

The 2nd round of the vaccination campaign is scheduled for 7-13 Jun
2010. The WHO Regional Director for Europe, Zsuzsanna Jakab, will
visit Uzbekistan during this period at the invitation of the Minister
of Health. In the capital, Tashkent, Ms Jakab will meet leading
representatives of the Government and public health authorities to
discuss polio vaccination and a range of other public health
challenges in Uzbekistan.

The 3rd round of nationwide polio vaccination is tentatively planned
for 5-9 Jul [2010].

--
Communicated by:
ProMED-mail
<promed@promedmail.org>

[If the information provided in the newswire is correct, and the
viruses isolated from these 2 new cases is a wild polio virus (WPV),
then these cases represent the 1st documented local transmission of
the WPV within Russia.

If one looks at the vaccination coverages with 3 or more doses of the
oral polio vaccine (OPV) reported to WHO by country and year since
1986 (see table below) one sees that since approximately 1997,
coverages have been above 90 percent in all 3 countries. But, prior to
1995, the coverages have been below 80 percent in one or more of the
countries, especially the Russian Federation where reported coverages
fell below 70 percent. If these coverage data are correct (and one
does recognize that administrative data such as these reflect doses
given to the target population less than one year of age), then there
are most likely pockets of susceptible population born between 1985
and 1994 -- ages 16 - 25 years old. Information on the age
distribution of the cases would be helpful.

Vaccination coverages with 3 or more doses of OPV by country and year:

Year: Russian Federation / Tajikistan / Uzbekistan

2009: 98 / 93 / 99
2008: 98 / 87 / 98
2007: 99 / 85 / 98
2006: 99 / 95 / 94
2005: 98 / 96 / 99*
2004: 98 / 96 / 99
2003: 97 / 96 / 99
2002: 97 / 97 / 99
2001: 97 / 97 / 99*
2000: 97 / 98 / 99
1999: 97 / 96 / 99
1998: 94 / 94 / 99
1997: 91 / 92 / 98
1996: 87 / 89 / 97
1995: 77 / 81 / 99
1994: 68 / 92 / 79
1993: 82 / 77 / 46
1992: 69 / 73 / 85
1991: 72 / 88 / 89
1990: 69 / 86 / 90
1989: 69 / 90 / 61
1988: 61 / 90 / 50
1987: 50 / 91 / 95
1986: 57 / 97 / 93
**indicates coverage was reported over 99.5 percent
(data available at
<http://apps.who.int/immunization_monitoring/en/globalsummary/timeseries/tscoveragepol3.htm>).

According to the latest case counts from the polio eradication
website, as of 8 Jun 2010, there have been 183 confirmed cases of
polio in Tajikistan and an additional 456 acute flaccid paralysis
cases are pending laboratory confirmation.

For the interactive HealthMap/ProMED map of the Chelyabinsk region of
the Russian Federation, see
<http://healthmap.org/r/00JZ>. - Mod.MPP]

 

[alert]

Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

http://translate.googleusercontent....le.com&usg=ALkJrhgbNyE83bfZM-NR5S7if9IyUaeyjQ

Ministry of Health of Tajikistan recorded decrease in the incidence of poliomyelitis

The incidence of poliomyelitis in Tajikistan has decreased after the three stages of immunization against this infection . This was reported by the head of the press center of the national Ministry of Health of Fatima Goibova, reports RIA Novosti .

According Goibovoy, the incidence of polio in the country declined by 85 percent compared with a maximum value of this indicator, recorded earlier. The number of laboratory-confirmed cases of infection over one hundred and fifty. Total of suspected poliomyelitis were hospitalized 515 people.

The representative of the Tajik Ministry of Health noted that today in the republic began the fourth phase of the vaccination campaign. By June 19, 2010 doctors plan to vaccinate against polio for all children under the age of 15 years. As a result of the third phase of vaccination, vaccinations were 2.9 million (or 99.5 per cent) of children in this age group.

Earlier, on June 15th chief sanitary doctor Gennady Onishchenko said about the lifting of restrictions on the import of dried fruits and nuts from Tajikistan, imposed in connection with an outbreak of polio in the country on May 5. In addition, according to Onishchenko, in the near future may be lifted a ban on entry into Russia Tajik children.

 

[alert]

Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

239 + 359 = 598, so there does appear to be a slowing down of the outbreak. The latest onset of a confirmed case is May 21, so there is still nearly a month worth of testing backlog.

Russia is also listed as four confirmed WPV1 AFP cases.

http://www.polioeradication.org/casecount.asp

Tajikistan and surrounding countries
56 new type 1 cases were reported in the past week, in Dushanbe City, the Districts of Republic Subordination, Kurgan-Tube and Kulyab, bringing the total number of cases for 2010 to 239.
359 cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) remain pending for laboratory confirmation.
The third NIDs were held on 1-5 June, in conjunction with Uzbekistan, and the fourth immunization activities are currently being held, targeting all children under 18.. Immunity to polio should be rapidly rising across the country as a direct result of these multiple short-interval doses.
Uzbekistan is planning further SIAs from 5-9 July. Kyrgyzstan has postponed its activities due to unrest. Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan are also planning immunization activities.

 

[alert]

Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

http://translate.googleusercontent....le.com&usg=ALkJrhjixvKgu7diU6yQtWo96jtychr74w

The situation of poliomyelitis in Tajikistan evoked Onishchenko cautious optimism

The situation on the incidence of poliomyelitis in Tajikistan has stabilized. Told the chief sanitary doctor Gennady Onishchenko, reports RIA Novosti .

Speaking at a press conference in Moscow, Onishchenko said: "We can now conclude with cautious optimism that the situation is stabilized with polio in the territory of the Republic of Tajikistan." He noted that new infections are not registered in the Central Asian republic since 28 May. In total from December 2009 Tajikistan doctors identified 643 patients with suspected polio. Laboratory studies have confirmed 274 cases of infection.

According to " Interfax ", the chief sanitary doctor said that most cases of polio recorded in Russia, cropped. Doctors continue to monitor the patients.

По информации Онищенко, в России выявлено шесть случаев заболевания полиомиелитом, а также десять случаев бессимптомного носительства полиовируса. According to Onishchenko, Russia has identified six cases of polio, and 10 cases of asymptomatic carriers of poliovirus. He noted that carriers of the virus are a major epidemiological risk than sick. "Man is active, it is not limited by anything, a normal feeling, but it highlights the external environment wild virus", - explained the Rospotrebnadzor.

Cases of polio virus carriers, according to Onishchenko, were detected in four children in the Irkutsk region, with two children and one adult in Moscow and St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg.

 

[alert]

Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

Today's report now indicates 334 confirmed cases, with May 21st being the most recent onset of a confirmed case.

http://www.polioeradication.org/casecount.asp

[snip]

Tajikistan and surrounding countries
60 new cases were reported in the past week (all WPV1), bringing the total number of cases for 2010 to 334. The most recent case had onset of paralysis on 24 May, before the start of the third National Immunization Days (NIDs). Tajikistan accounts for nearly 85% of all global cases in 2010.
Four NIDs have now been conducted with monovalent OPV type 1.
Neighbouring countries, including Uzbekistan, continue to conduct immunization campaigns to minimize the risk and consequences of international spread of polio from Tajikistan.
In Russia, investigation continues into the possible sources of exposure of six cases and their connections to the current outbreak in Tajikistan.

 

[alert]

Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

http://www.polioeradication.org/casecount.asp

[snip]

Tajikistan and surrounding countries
40 new WPV1 cases were reported in the past week, bringing the total number of cases for 2010 to 374. The most recent case had onset of paralysis on 29 May. Tajikistan accounts for three quarters of all global cases in 2010.
Four NIDs have now been conducted with mOPV1 at short intervals. Although the outbreak seems to have peaked, the wild poliovirus case count is likely to increase, as specimens are still pending results in the lab. It is essential that excellent surveillance levels are obtained to ensure any lingering transmission can be quickly stopped.
Neighboring countries continue to conduct immunization campaigns to minimize the risk and consequences of international spread of polio from Tajikistan: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are all conducting NIDs in July/August.
In Russia, investigations are continuing to determine the most likely source of infection of six WPV cases and their connections to the current outbreak in Tajikistan.

 

[alert]

Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

http://www.polioeradication.org/casecount.asp

Tajikistan and surrounding countries
39 new WPV1 cases were reported in the past week, including in three new districts, bringing the total number of cases for 2010 to 413. The most recent case had onset of paralysis on 6 June. Tajikistan accounts for 76% of all global cases in 2010.
Four NIDs have now been conducted with monovalent oral polio vaccine type 1 (mOPV1) at short intervals.
Given declining numbers of AFP cases, a Surveillance review is being planned for the country to ensure that excellent AFP surveillance levels are sustained.
To minimize the risk and consequences of international spread of polio from Tajikistan: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are all conducting NIDs in July/August.
Results are being awaited from Russia, further to investigations conducted to determine the most likely source of infection of six WPV cases in the country and their connections to Tajikistan and Uzbekistan.

 

[alert]

Re: Tajikistan hit by deadly polio outbreak: WHO

http://www.polioeradication.org/casecount.asp

Tajikistan and surrounding countries
12 new cases were reported in the past week, bringing the total number of cases for 2010 to 425. The most recent case had onset of paralysis on 12 June, and has been covered by the most recent NIDs on 15 June.
Four NIDs have now been conducted with mOPV1 at short intervals.
Given declining numbers of AFP cases, a Surveillance review is being planned for the country to ensure that strong AFP surveillance levels are sustained.
To minimize the risk and consequences of international spread of polio from Tajikistan: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan are all conducting NIDs in July/August.