The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea, prompting urgent calls for a nationwide immunisation campaign. Media reports indicate that routine health screenings in Lae—a northeastern coastal city—detected traces of the poliovirus in otherwise healthy children.
Polio, a highly contagious disease caused by the poliovirus, primarily affects children under the age of five. It spreads through contact with the feces of an infected person or through respiratory droplets released when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Although Papua New Guinea was certified polio-free in 2000, the virus has made a troubling reappearance. A previous outbreak in 2018 was quickly contained, but current vaccination rates remain worryingly low, with less than 50% of the population immunised. The WHO has stressed the importance of immediate action to prevent further spread of the disease.