An outbreak of this previously eradicated disease has been reported near Australia

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A polio outbreak has been declared in Papua New Guinea, sparking concern about the disease’s spread in a country with low vaccination rates, health officials said.

Poliovirus, most often spread through sewage and contaminated water, is highly infectious and potentially fatal.

It can cause deformities and paralysis, and mainly affects children under five years old.

A nurse administers a child an oral vaccination

In some remote villages in PNG polio vaccination rates are thought to be as low as 7 per cent. Source: AAP / Brendan Esposito

The virus was detected in wastewater and environmental samples in the Pacific nation’s capital Port Moresby and second-largest city Lae, the World Health Organization (WHO) said.

In subsequent testing, two children in Lae were found to have the poliovirus type 2 strain, according to the WHO representative in Papua New Guinea, Sevil Huseynova.

The confirmation of community transmission in the children “constitutes a polio outbreak”, Huseynova said in briefing notes provided to AFP.

“Polio is a highly infectious disease, and in communities with low polio immunisation rates, the virus quickly spreads from one person to another,” Huseynova said.

The health agency “expresses deep concern over the confirmed outbreak”, she said.

Dr Matt Mason is a lecturer in nursing in the School of Health, Centre for Pacific Islands Research at the University of the Sunshine Coast.

He said with only 47 per cent of PNG children fully immunised, and some districts reporting coverage as low as 8 per cent, “pockets of extreme vulnerability exist”.

“Infection prevention and control must begin at the community level. Strengthening water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure in both urban settlements and remote villages is essential to curb faecal–oral spread.”

He suggested that health authorities partner with reliable organizations like churches and women’s groups to distribute hygiene kits and encourage the setup of hand hygiene stations at places such as schools, markets, and healthcare facilities.

Tracing PNG’s polio outbreak

Genetic testing showed the polio strain detected in Papua New Guinea was linked to one circulating in Indonesia.

Papua New Guinea was certified as polio-free in 2000, but immunisation rates among children are low.

Papua New Guinea health minister Elias Kapavore said the situation was “serious but manageable”.

“We’ve dealt with this before and know what works,” he told reporters on Thursday.

“Vaccination is safe and effective, and we’re acting quickly to keep children protected.”

Is there a risk of polio spreading to Australia?

Australia has been polio-free since 2000 and hasn’t had a major outbreak of the disease since 1961. Children are routinely vaccinated against the illness.

Dr Yong Gao (Nias) Peng is a CSIRO early research career fellow at CSIRO Health and Biosecurity.

“While the risk of polio spreading to Australia is considered low due to high vaccination rates and robust public health infrastructure, it is recommended that travellers to PNG ensure their polio vaccinations are up to date,” Peng says.

“Continued surveillance for poliovirus and support for PNG’s immunisation efforts are crucial to contain the outbreak and prevent international spread.”

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