MIRAMSHAH, Aug 28: The National Institute of Health, Islamabad, confirmed two new cases of polio in North Waziristan on Wednesday, raising the number of cases to five.

Taliban militants had banned vaccination in the area in June last year.

With the new cases, the number of polio-infected children in Pakistan rose to 27, a statement issued by the health department said. Of the 27 cases, 17 are in Fata.

Twenty-one month-old Maryam Bibi, daughter of Saeedullah of Shalkikhel village in Mir Ali tehsil, has been tested positive for the polio virus. She had not received any polio drop.

Eleven-month-old Mohammad, son of Abdul Basit, has also tested positive for the virus. He had not been vaccinated because of the Taliban ban.

Agency surgeon Dr Jahan Mir Khan told journalists that samples of at least 42 suspected cases had been sent to Islamabad for examination. He also said that the political administration had started talks with the Taliban through a grand tribal jirga to persuade them to allow vaccination in the area.

Health officials said the disease could reach epidemic proportions and spread to areas adjacent to Fata if vaccination campaign was not started immediately.