According to the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC), two new cases have been reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while one case has been reported from Sindh.

The new Khyber Pakhtunkhwa cases were detected in the districts of North Waziristan and Lakki Marwat — both considered polio hotspots.

In Sindh, a child in Umerkot district was found to be infected with the poliovirus.

Authorities say emergency measures are being taken to contain the spread of the virus, but the continued emergence of cases poses a serious public health challenge.

“Majority of the 17 confirmed cases this year have been reported from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which remains the epicentre of polio transmission,” the NEOC stated.

Health officials have once again urged parents to ensure that their children receive polio drops during every round of the nationwide immunisation campaign.