This year, 73 cases have been detected from 16 states in the country and three out these were reported from Gujarat, UNICEF officials said adding that Uttar Pradesh accounted for 1242 cases last year.

"Despite being declared polio-free in 2000 when not a single case was reported, 211 cases were reported in 2001 and then there was a sudden spurt last year when the number shot up to 1600 across the country," communications officer of UNICEF Gujarat GS Gulati said.

He attributed the sudden rise in lack of awareness for the pulse polio immunisation (PPI) campaign and lesser coverage of children.

Three cases in the state were reported from Patan in north Gujarat,  Gandhidham in Kutch district and Ahmedabad this year.

Gulati said, "There has been a decrease in number of people coming to booths during the PPI as they increasingly expect that volunteers would go door-to-door to administer the anti-polio drops to their children, which is unfortunate."