Afghanistan has reported its third confirmed case of polio this year. The news was confirmed by the World Health Organization, which also said that the case arose in Kunar province.
The child is a two-year-old girl who is now receiving treatment and her condition is stable. She is the first confirmed case in Kunar province and the third of the year.
The first two cases of polio were reported in the southern region of Kandahar and in Kunduz provinces respectively.
The WHO has warned that there is increased risk of further cases in Afghanistan and neighboring countries due to persistent conflict, population displacement, and the prevalence of susceptible populations.
Afghanistan is one of the two countries in the world, along with Pakistan, that are still battling endemic polio. Vaccination campaigns are integral to the efforts to end the spread of the virus, but are hindered by insecurity due to conflict and population movements.