Two new cases of polio have been detected in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, raising concerns among health authorities about the virus’s continued spread.
The National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) confirmed on Tuesday that the latest cases involve children from Tank district and North Waziristan, both considered high-risk areas.
Officials at the NEOC described the development as deeply worrying, warning that southern KP remains the strongest hub for the virus. They said the region’s persistent circulation of the poliovirus is making eradication efforts increasingly challenging.
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To contain the spread, health authorities plan to launch a countrywide vaccination drive next month. Parents are being urged to ensure that all children under the age of five receive the polio drops during the campaign.
This latest confirmation follows another case earlier this month when a five-month-old child in Lakki Marwat’s UC Suleman Khel tested positive.
With these additions, the total number of polio cases in Pakistan this year has climbed to 23, raising fears that progress made over the years could be at risk.