Two new polio cases brings total to 34

Condition compelling health department to launch an emergency anti-polio drive in two union councils of the district.

KARAK:

Two new polio cases were reported on Sunday taking the tally of total cases in the country to 34 in 2012.

The polio virus was detected in two-year-old Nisa, a resident of village Muliano Koruna of Bajaur Agency, while another case surfaced in Karak after 15 years of being polio-free, compelling the health department to launch an emergency anti-polio drive in two union councils of the district.

Executive District Officer (EDO) Health, Dr Balqaiz Khattak, confirmed the virus in four-year-old Muhammad Fawa, saying that it was the first case to have emerged in the district since 1997.

The victim was admitted to Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar for treatment, Khattak added. He said that the samples were sent to National Research Laboratory Rawalpindi, where the detection of the virus was confirmed.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 24^th, 2012.