20 Polio cases in Afghanistan

The number of polio cases recorded in Afghanistan has risen to 20 this year after a new case was confirmed in the southern region, the Ministry of Public Health said on Wednesday.

The latest case of wild poliovirus was detected in Shaheede-e-Hassas district in the southern province of Uruzgan, bringing to two the number of the poliovirus cases in the district, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying.

The paralyzed three-year-old boy had never been vaccinated due to his family's refusal to go for polio vaccination.

A total of 14 cases have been recorded in southern Afghanistan and the six other cases reported in eastern Afghan provinces so far this year.

Poliovirus could be transferred rapidly and the only preventable way was vaccination, the statement noted.

The ongoing insurgency and conflicts have been hindering the efforts to stamp out the infectious disease in the country.