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Indonesian Polio Cases Rise to 34

update

Indonesia has reported six new polio infections, bringing the number of children infected to 34.

The World Health Organization said the new cases were found in West Java, the province where the disease first appeared in April.

Polio, which was eliminated from Indonesia nine years ago, is believed to have returned to the mainly Muslim country via Saudi Arabia either through migrant workers or Islamic pilgrims returning from Mecca.

Indonesia is the 16th country where polio has reappeared since 2003, and the first outside Africa and the Middle East. The outbreak has been traced to northern Nigeria, where hard-line Muslims had boycotted a vaccination campaign.

Indonesia launched a massive campaign last week to vaccinate at least 6.4 million children.

Some information for this report provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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