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Sunday, May 18, 2025
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Polio Outbreak Declared in Papua New Guinea Amid Low Vaccination Rates
Health officials confirm cases of poliovirus in children, raising concerns about the disease's potential spread.
An outbreak of poliovirus has been confirmed in Papua New Guinea (PNG), prompting widespread concern about the disease's resurgence in the region.
Health officials have identified the presence of the virus in environmental and wastewater samples collected from the capital, Port Moresby, and the city of Lae.
Subsequent investigations revealed that two children in Lae tested positive for the type 2 strain of the poliovirus, marking the emergence of community transmission, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Poliovirus is predominantly transmitted through contaminated water and sewage, making it highly infectious, particularly in areas with inadequate sanitation and low immunization coverage.
The disease can lead to severe outcomes, including paralysis and deformities, especially in children under the age of five.
Alarmingly, vaccination rates in some remote villages in PNG are reportedly as low as 7 percent.
Overall, only 47 percent of children in Papua New Guinea are fully immunized, with certain districts suffering from vaccination coverage as low as 8 percent.
The WHO representative in PNG, Sevil Huseynova, expressed serious concern over the outbreak, emphasizing the rapid spread of the virus in under-vaccinated communities.
Huseynova stated that the detection of the poliovirus strain linked to one circulating in Indonesia underlines the need for immediate action.
In light of the situation, public health officials, including Dr. Matt Mason from the University of the Sunshine Coast, highlighted the necessity of enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure at community levels to mitigate faecal–oral transmission of the virus.
To address the outbreak, health authorities are encouraged to engage with local organizations—such as churches and women's groups—to promote hygiene practices and distribute hygiene kits across schools, markets, and health facilities.
Elias Kapavore, the health minister of Papua New Guinea, acknowledged the seriousness of the outbreak but characterized the situation as manageable.
He reassured the public of the safety and efficacy of vaccinations, stressing the importance of acting swiftly to protect children from potential infection.
Australia, which has maintained a polio-free status since 2000, has not experienced a significant outbreak of the disease since 1961. Despite the low likelihood of the virus spreading to Australia due to high vaccination rates and established public health infrastructure, health experts recommend that travelers to PNG ensure their polio vaccinations are current.
Dr. Yong Gao (Nias) Peng from CSIRO emphasized the importance of continued monitoring of the poliovirus and support for PNG's vaccination efforts as crucial measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
Health officials have identified the presence of the virus in environmental and wastewater samples collected from the capital, Port Moresby, and the city of Lae.
Subsequent investigations revealed that two children in Lae tested positive for the type 2 strain of the poliovirus, marking the emergence of community transmission, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Poliovirus is predominantly transmitted through contaminated water and sewage, making it highly infectious, particularly in areas with inadequate sanitation and low immunization coverage.
The disease can lead to severe outcomes, including paralysis and deformities, especially in children under the age of five.
Alarmingly, vaccination rates in some remote villages in PNG are reportedly as low as 7 percent.
Overall, only 47 percent of children in Papua New Guinea are fully immunized, with certain districts suffering from vaccination coverage as low as 8 percent.
The WHO representative in PNG, Sevil Huseynova, expressed serious concern over the outbreak, emphasizing the rapid spread of the virus in under-vaccinated communities.
Huseynova stated that the detection of the poliovirus strain linked to one circulating in Indonesia underlines the need for immediate action.
In light of the situation, public health officials, including Dr. Matt Mason from the University of the Sunshine Coast, highlighted the necessity of enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure at community levels to mitigate faecal–oral transmission of the virus.
To address the outbreak, health authorities are encouraged to engage with local organizations—such as churches and women's groups—to promote hygiene practices and distribute hygiene kits across schools, markets, and health facilities.
Elias Kapavore, the health minister of Papua New Guinea, acknowledged the seriousness of the outbreak but characterized the situation as manageable.
He reassured the public of the safety and efficacy of vaccinations, stressing the importance of acting swiftly to protect children from potential infection.
Australia, which has maintained a polio-free status since 2000, has not experienced a significant outbreak of the disease since 1961. Despite the low likelihood of the virus spreading to Australia due to high vaccination rates and established public health infrastructure, health experts recommend that travelers to PNG ensure their polio vaccinations are current.
Dr. Yong Gao (Nias) Peng from CSIRO emphasized the importance of continued monitoring of the poliovirus and support for PNG's vaccination efforts as crucial measures to prevent further spread of the disease.
