MIRAMSHAH, Oct 28: Three new polio cases have been detected among children of the internally displaced families of Mehsud tribe in the North Waziristan Agency.

A local health official told Dawn on Friday that all the children, who had tested positive for the crippling disease, were two years of age.

He identified the new cases as Naila, daughter of Dair Khan, resident of Chashma; Irshad, son of Wali Khan, and Yousaf, son of Taza Khan, both residents of Khesore village of Mir Ali tehsil.

Dr Jahandad, a WHO representative, confirmed the three cases and said anti-polio drops were not administered to the children on the parents' refusal. He said the children were suspected of being affected by polio during the recently-concluded immunisation campaign, adding that their stool and blood samples were sent to National Institute of Health, Islamabad for laboratory examination.

He said the tests had confirmed that the three children suffered from polio.

Dr Jahandad also questioned the quality of vaccine, saying it was substandard and unfit for administration.

The new cases have increased the number of polio cases detected in North Waziristan in 2011 to eight.

The earlier cases were reported in Zafar Town and Danday Darpakhel villages in Miramshah headquarters, Dosali tehsil, Garyom tehsil and Boya in Dattakhel tehsil.