Epidemic scale: Polio count jumps to 246 with three more cases

PESHAWAR:

Three more polio cases were reported from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) on Friday, taking this year’s total to 246.

According to officials of the health department, two infected children belong to Khyber Agency, while one child is from South Waziristan Agency. However, the details of the children could not be ascertained till this report was filed.

“We have just confirmed three new cases from Fata, but their names and ages have not been released as yet,” said a health department official requesting anonymity.

Pakistan is now just four polio cases shy of reaching 250. Of the 246, 158 children are from Fata, 49 from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 25 from Sindh, 11 from Balochistan and three from Punjab.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 15^th, 2014.