The National Institute of Health Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Thursday notified five new cases of polio virus from Tank, D I Khan, Bannu and districts taking the total case count to 88 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and 123 in the country.

As per details, wild polio virus has been isolated from stool sample of 26- month-old male child from Tehsil Bannu, District Bannu, 30-month-old female child and five-month-old male child from Tank, 24-month-old female child from Parova Tehsil of district D I Khan and six-month-old child from Baizai tehsil of Mohmand district.

The epidemiological study of the children shows that all children were zero dose for essential immunization while their SIAs history is under investigation.

In a press statement, Coordinator EOC Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Abdul Basit have shown strong exception to the sharp increase in polio cases in the province specially from the southern belt saying that it was unfortunate that 68 children are disabled for life.

He said that virus was on fire in the province specifically in the southern belt and is present in the environment that will hit any unvaccinated or immune-comprise child.

Despite the fact that vaccine is available to prevent children from the disease yet parents were not vaccinating their children due to misconceptions and were responsible for the disability of the children, he added.

He said that the only viable solution of the problem is to vaccinate children under five in every campaign as only repeated doses can protect the child from permanent disability and stop virus circulation in the environment.

Abdul Basit appealed to parent not to pay attention to propagandas and rumors, adding that polio vaccine was completely safe and do not cause any harm upon administration.