DUSHANBE, April 22, 2010, Asia-Plus — 120 new cases of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) have been registered in Tajikistan over the first three month of this year, according to the Ministry of Health (MoH).
Flaccid paralysis a clinical manifestation characterized by weakness or paralysis and reduced muscle tone without other obvious cause. The term acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) is often used to describe a sudden onset, as might be found with polio. AFP is the most common sign of acute polio, and used for surveillance during polio outbreaks. AFP is also associated with a number of other pathogenic agents including enteroviruses, echoviruses, and adenoviruses, among others
The source at a MoH said that since 2002, when Tajikistan was announced free from polio, some 25-40 cases of AFP have been registered in the country annually. “The majority of AFP sufferers registered this year have already been cured,” said the source, “However, to find out the reason for increase in the number of this disease cases and prevent recurrence of polio in the country, the ministry has applied to the World Health Organization (WHO).”
According to him, the WHO expert arrived in Tajikistan last week and his currently working together with Tajik colleague to find out the reason for this situation. “It is expected that upon recommendations of WHO a polio immunization campaign will be carried out in cooperation with neighboring countries to prevent spread of this disease,” the source said, noting that no case of polio has been registered in Tajikistan since 1997.
Polio cases are being registered in neighboring Afghanistan every year, and therefore, there is a risk of appearance of this disease in Tajikistan, he noted. “Tajikistan has developed the plan of actions to prevent polio and all diseases similar to polio are under strict epidemiological control,” the source added.
