PESHAWAR: An official of the Health Department on Saturday said that a total of 28 new polio cases had so far been confirmed in the NWFP this year. Director General Health Dr Sajid Shaheen directed all the executive district officers (EDOs) to spare no effort in making the three-day anti-polio vaccination drive, scheduled to commence on Monday, a success.

Addressing a press conference here, he said that the hard-to-reach areas of the NWFP and the conflict zones would not be covered during the coming campaign. About the tribal areas, he said as the situation improved in the restive areas, they would start the vaccination drive there as well. He said 28 new cases had been registered positive in the NWFP. Among them, three cases were reported from Swat, 10 from Peshawar, three from Bajaur, two from Nowshera, one each from Kohat, Charsadda, Battagram, Mohmand Agency and Khyber Agency and three cases from Dir Upper.