Number of poliomyelitis cases in Tajikistan rises to 126 - WHO.

DUSHANBE, May 19 (Itar-Tass) -The number of poliomyelitis cases in
Tajikistan has risen to 126. Children account for the majority of the
sick, the Tajik mission at the World Health Organization (WHO) reported.

By May 19, a total of 431 people suspected of developing paralysis had
been registered in Tajikistan. The number of poliomyelitis cases
officially confirmed by laboratory tests rose to 126, it said.
WHO said with reference to its data that the epicentre of the
infection was in the southwest of Tajikistan near the Afghan border.
Afghanistan is one of the territories, which apart from India and Pakistan
might have been a source from where the virus was brought to Tajikistan.
In connection with the first round of the vaccination children under
six years, the spread of poliomyelitis has been contained, and the
situation is expected to improve after the second and third vaccination
stages, WHO experts said.
WHO has called on the Tajik population to treat the vaccination
campaign with a sense of responsibility because if the necessary three
vaccination stages are skipped this might undermine the common effort to
stabilize the epidemiological situation.
WHO did not recommend to restrict visits abroad, cut trade or declare
quarantine if the poliomyelitis virus was found. But standard
recommendations envisage obligatory vaccination of citizens arriving or
departing from the infected areas.
Earlier, deputy commander of Russia's 201st motor-rifle regiment
Alexander Zemtsov reported that all the children of servicemen and
servicemen under 25 years had been vaccinated against poliomyelitis.
"Russian military medical experts have brought the situation under
control. There are no reasons to worry," he said.
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