QUETTA: Number of Polio cases rises to 12 in Balochistan this year as another case has been surfaced in district Killa Abdullah on Wednesday, health officials said.

Despite repeated claims by the Balochistan government, polio cases are being reported from different parts of the province.

The latest victim of the crippling virus was identified as 14-month-old Bahadur, a resident of Daman Ashezai in Chaman, Pakistan's bordering town with Afghanistan.

According to health officials, Bahadur had received four dozes of the anti polio vaccine. But, he fell prey to the crippling disease. This case has surfaced days after a three-day anti polio campaign in 11 districts of Balochistan.

Children below the age of five years were administered polio drops. Most of the cases were reported from Quetta and Killa Abdullah districts. However, one case was reported from Balochistan's Zhob district.

Balochistan remained polio-free for almost more than two years before the first polio case was reported in July this year from Maizai Addah area of district Killa Abdullah.

Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch has taken serious notice of increasing polio cases in the country’s largest province and directed all elected members to stay in their constituencies during the campaign.

Polio teams were also provided security by the provincial government to avoid occurrence of any untoward incident during the campaign in which a large number of children below the age of five were administered polio drops.

The year 2011 appeared to be the worst when 73 polio cases were reported from the province. Health officials in Balochistan termed refusal on the part of parents as the main reason behind increasing polio cases.

However, independent sources also blame the health department, UNICEF and other organisations for their inability and incompetency to curb the rising number of polio cases in the region.