Thirteen new cases of polio have reportedly been detected in Pakistan.
“Dawn” newspaper reported that the new cases were confirmed on September 16 by the National Institute of Health in Islamabad.
A health official was quoted as saying that seven of the cases were reported from the northwestern Federally Administered Tribal Areas and three from neighboring Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Province.
Single cases were found in Sindh, Punjab, and Balochistan provinces.
The official said the new reported cases bring this year's total to 158.
The rate of infections has increased since 2012, when 58 polio cases were reported.
Pakistan is one of only three countries, along with Afghanistan and Nigeria, where polio is endemic.
Efforts to fight against it have been badly undermined by attacks on immunization teams.
