Four new polio cases sees Pakistan's tally jump to 231

Two new cases from Khyber Agency raise the total of cases reported from Fata to 150

PESHAWAR: For the first time in 16 years, the number of polio cases reported in Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) has reached 150 as four more cases were confirmed.

Late on Wednesday night, the National Institute of Health in Islamabad confirmed diagnosis of two new cases in Khyber Agency, bringing the total number of cases in Pakistan to 231. Two other cases were confirmed are from Peshawar.

In 1998, Pakistan reported 353 cases, when Fata had roughly 150 or more children diagnosed with polio. Back then Pakistan had eradicated wild poliovirus type-2; the country had both types 1 and 3. Today with just poliovirus type-1, the country has 231 cases.

Some experts working alongside the government suggest that the number of cases in Pakistan may cross 300 before the calendar year ends.

The tally on Wednesday: Fata 150, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 48, Sindh 23, Balochistan seven and Punjab three.