Afghanistan&s ministry of public health said on Thursday that a cross-border two-day meeting got underway on Wednesday in Islamabad with the aim of curbing the spread of polio between the two countries.Poliomyelitis, commonly known as polio, remains endemic in only two countries in the world.

The countries are Afghanistan and Pakistan.According to the ministry, Dr Nek Wali Shah Momin, the director of the national Emergency Operation Center (EOC), which is tasked with the job of working to eradicate polio in Afghanistan, also attended the meeting along with a technical team.The ministry said that the aim of the meeting is to develop practical strategies to stop the spread of poliovirus between the two countries.

Participants from both countries are expected to also discuss the progress, challenges and plans made in relation to the virus and how to eradicate it.They will also discuss ways in which to work together in the fight against the virus.According to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative there have been six cases of polio reported in Afghanistan this year.

Pakistan has meanwhile reported three cases this year.

Polio mainly affects children under 5 years of age and one in 200 infections leads to irreversible paralysis.

Among those paralyzed, 5&10% die when their breathing muscles become immobilized.The post Afghanistan, Pakistan meet to discuss spread of poliovirus first appeared on Ariana News.