Kabul, July 29 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over a spike in polio cases in Afghanistan and Pakistan, confirming nine new infections this year and warning of increased cross-border transmission risks due to refugee movements and limited access to vulnerable populations, Khaama Press reported.

In a statement released on July 28, the WHO confirmed that eight of the nine new polio cases were detected in Pakistan and one in Afghanistan, marking a concerning development in the region's fight to eradicate the disease, according to Khaama Press.

The health agency identified Afghanistan's southern provinces, along with Pakistan's Quetta, Karachi, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as major hotspots for transmission. "The return o...