13 new polio cases found in Pakistan

At least 13 new cases of crippling poliovirus have been detected in Pakistan, taking this year’s total of the new victims to 158, reports said on Wednesday.

The new cases were confirmed on Tuesday by the National Institute of Health in Islamabad, Dawn reported.

A health official said seven of the cases were reported from the tribal regions and three from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.

One case each was found in other three provinces, bringing the national total to 158 cases: 113 from tribal regions, 27 from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province, 12 from Sindh, two from Punjab and three from Balochistan.

Pakistan, Nigeria and Afghanistan are considered to be the only countries where poliovirus is endemic.