Overview

• Two healthy children in Lae, Papua New Guinea, have been diagnosed with polio, confirming community transmission of the virus.
• Poliovirus type 2 was first detected in wastewater samples in March 2025, with genetic links to strains circulating in Indonesia, raising regional concerns.
• This is Papua New Guinea's first polio outbreak since 2018, when a previous outbreak was successfully eradicated within the same year.
• WHO, UNICEF, and PNG's Department of Health have launched targeted immunisation campaigns focusing on children under five in urban centres like Lae and Port Moresby.
• Low vaccination rates and suboptimal surveillance systems in PNG have heightened the risk of further spread, prompting intensified monitoring and community engagement.