ISLAMABAD: Four new polio cases have been reported in Pakistan, taking the number of those affected by the crippling disease to 295 this year.

According to federal health department, two new cases have been reported from Peshawar and one each from Khyber Agency in tribal areas and Qila Abdullah district in Balochistan.

The 2014 has been the toughest year for the Pakistan anti-polio programme as the number of confirmed cases is going to touch the 300 mark, the highest in the country since 1999.

During the past six months, Pakistan had topped in the world polio cases with 85 per cent of all the polio cases reported around the world. Afghanistan was second with 23 cases and Nigeria on third with six cases.

Pakistan government has come under criticism for doing little to eradicate the virus which is a threat to the world. Security is the main reason for the spread of polio virus as vaccination cannot be organised in tribal areas where Taliban still control large areas.

They consider polio medicine as a conspiracy by the West to sterile Muslims. Peshawar is considered as hub of poliovirus. Several polio workers, including women, lost their lives in the attacks. With emergence of four new cases, the number of victims affected by the crippling disease rose to 295, officials said.

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