A sharp increase of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases in early April prompted the Tajik government to notify WHO of a possible polio outbreak. After further investigation by the Tajik national health authorities jointly with WHO, laboratory tests by the WHO collaborating centre in Moscow confirmed poliovirus as the cause of the outbreak.

Tests are being done to further characterize the virus. WHO immediately alerted all WHO Member States of this new public health risk in eastern central Asia, as required under the International Health Regulations. WHO has also alerted the governments of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan to intensify surveillance for AFP cases and to rapidly conduct national or subnational polio immunization campaigns.

This is the first outbreak from imported poliovirus in the WHO European Region since the Region was certified polio-free in 2002. WHO, together with the active participation of its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, will continue to provide technical and field support until the outbreak is brought under control. WHO and its partners will support the Ministry of Health of Tajikistan in conducting a mass immunization campaign.