A new polio case has been reported in Nangarhar province, bringing the total number of positive cases to five in Afghanistan this year, all of them from Nangarhar.

An official within the Public Health Ministry told TOLOnews that this case was reported in the Dur Baba district of Nangarhar province.

TOLOnews contacted the affected child, Marwa, who is age six.

Marwa is from Goroko village of Dur-Baba district of Nangarhar.

According to family members, Marwa has been vaccinated but still got affected by polio.

“No one tells us anything. We have found out here that she is affected. They took the test here,” said Awal Zar, father of Marwa.

The doctors said that the increase in the number of positive polio cases is due to the lack of awareness of the families.

“Unfortunately, again a positive case of polio has been recorded in Dur Baba district of Nangarhar… the main reasons for this are cultural issues,” said Nadir Afghan, a doctor.

The residents of Nangarhar meanwhile called on the relevant organizations to take immediate actions to prevent further effects of the disease.

“The vaccination should be conducted soon in Afghanistan. This disease should be eliminated. Earlier, there was no such illness in Afghanistan before but it has increased now,” said Allah Yar, a resident of Nangarhar.

“It has been five years since I had my vaccination. I have also conducted vaccination in this village very properly,” said a resident of Nangarhar, who is also part of the vaccination effort.

Prior to this, one positive case was recorded in Behsood, one in Batikoot, one in Koot and another in Nazian district of Nangarhar province.