In May 2025, Papua New Guinea health authorities informed the World Health Organization (WHO) about the detection of a polio virus in stool samples from two healthy children in Morobe Province. This detection has been classified as a "polio outbreak" under global health standard operating procedures. It marks the first polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea since 2018.
The PNG Department of Health, WHO, UNICEF, and the Australian government have launched a rapid response program. Vaccination campaigns are underway to target children under five years old in affected areas with the aim of increasing immunization coverage across the country.
Currently, there are no reported disruptions to hospital or clinic operations due to this polio outbreak.
According to guidelines from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), all infants and children should be vaccinated against polio with four doses of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) at ages 2 months, 4 months, 6-18 months, and 4-6 years. Once adults and children complete the primary vaccination series, they are generally considered to have good lifetime immunity to all strains of the polio virus. As a precautionary measure, adults who completed their primary series more than ten years ago may consider receiving a single lifetime booster dose.
For assistance, individuals can contact:
U.S. Embassy in Port Moresby: +(675) 308-9100 or consularportmoresby@state.gov
More information is available on their website: https://pg.usembassy.gov/
Additionally, individuals can reach out to State Department - Consular Affairs at 888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444 for further assistance regarding travel information related to Papua New Guinea: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/PapuaNewGuinea.html
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