DUSHANBE, May 9, 2010, Asia-Plus  -- Russia has the right to take measures to protect its population, Tajik Deputy health Minister also Head Sanitary Physician of Tajikistan, Azam Mirzoyev, said in an interview with Asia-Plus, commenting on the decision by Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Protection and Welfare, under which Tajik children under the age of six are banned from entry into Russia due to a polio outbreak reported in Tajikistan.

“Russian is the sovereign state and it may do as it think it,” Mirzoyev said.

Asked whether that decision is politically motivated, Mirzoyev stressed, “We cannot judge them; Russia is an independent state and has the right to take measures to protect its population and it may settle it its own way.”  “Indeed, there are recommendations of the World Health Organization on issues related to quarantine and other restrictions but they are just recommendations and countries decide themselves what to do,” he added.

“For our part, we have taken measures to prevent spread of polio,” said the Tajik deputy health minister, “Special ambulance rooms provided with polio vaccine have been established at all international airports and railroad stations of Tajikistan and all passengers under the age 15 traveling outside the country are being vaccinated against polio.  Besides, all people arriving in Tajikistan from Afghanistan, India and Pakistan are undergoing medical examination and special points have been set up at border crossings in Khatlon province and Gorno Badakhshan for vaccinating people entering the country.”

We will recall that Gennady Onishchenko, the head of Russia’s Federal Service for Supervision of Consumer Protection and Welfare, told reporters in Moscow on May 6 that Tajik children under the age of six are banned from entry into Russia due to a polio outbreak reported in Tajikistan.  According to him, the ban will be effective until the polio situation in Tajikistan becomes stable or the national polio immunization campaign amongst the children aged 0 to 6 is finished.