Four polio cases reported in K-P

LAKKI MARWAT: As the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government is all set to launch a five-day anti-polio drive across the province from Monday, the efforts to eradicate the poliovirus were dealt yet another blow when four new polio cases were confirmed in the province on Saturday.

Officials associated with the country’s polio eradication programme requesting anonymity told The Express Tribune that at least four new cases have been reported from Lakki Marwat district which has become a hotbed for polio cases in the recent past.

The official said with four new cases, the tally of polio-hit children by poliomyelitis has reached to nine in K-P this year.

He said the cases have been reported from Abbakhel, Bahmal and Ahmadzai areas of the district. Samples shared with the National Institute of Health (NIH) Islamabad tested positive, however, the authorities of the institute said an official announcement will be made on Monday.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 16^th, 2020.