PESHAWAR: Two more polio cases have been confirmed in North Waziristan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Tuesday that took the toll to 23 this year.
According to the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC), the newly infected children belong to Tank district and North Waziristan.
The NEOC has described the current situation as “alarming,” pointing out that the virus is circulating persistently in high-risk areas. Officials said that southern KP remains the epicenter of polio outbreaks, making eradication efforts increasingly difficult.
To counter the growing threat, a special anti-polio vaccination campaign will be launched across Pakistan next month. Authorities are urging parents to ensure every child under five receives drops during the drive to curb the virus’ spread.
Earlier this month, a five-month-old child in UC Suleman Khel, Lakki Marwat, was also diagnosed with the virus.
With the two latest confirmations, the total number of polio cases in Pakistan this year has reached 23, raising fears of a setback in the country’s decades-long battle against polio.
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