August 12, 2008	Tuesday	Sha'aban 9, 1429

FAISALABAD/PESHAWAR, Aug 11: Six more cases of polio have been detected in the country—four in Punjab and one each in the NWFP and Balochistan.

Sources in Faisalabad told Dawn on Monday that four suspected cases of polio were found in different villages of Samundri tehsil.

Three of the victims are: 11-month-old Kashaf of Chak 445-GB, 18-month-old Subhan of Chak 439-GB and two-year-old Tahir of Chak 414-GB.

The identity of the fourth patient from Chak 400-GB could not be ascertained because his family had taken him to a spiritual healer.

Child specialist Dr Mohammad Amin said that the four patients had been brought to a hospital.

The authorities concerned were informed but no special team was sent to look into the matter.

He said that stool and other samples had been sent to Islamabad for tests.

The mother of 11-month-old Kashaf told Dawn that the child had missed the last dose of polio vaccination.One case of polio was detected in Mardan and the other in Loralai.

Health officials said the cases had been confirmed by the National Institute of Health.

According to them, the victims are 31-month-old girl Sara of Narai village in Mardan district and 11-month-old boy Mathib of Yaro Shahr village of Loralai district of Balochistan.

It could not be ascertained if the two had been given the oral polio vaccine.

Both the cases are of PV1 which is a dangerous form of the disease.

The officials said a special vaccination campaign would be carried out in the areas where the cases had been found.