Poliovirus Detected in Papua New Guinea

The Government of Papua New Guinea recently reported two circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) cases in two healthy children from Lae, Morobe Province.

As of May 18, 2025, Papua New Guinea confirmed that cVDPV2 is a rare form of the virus that can emerge in under-immunised communities. The detection was made through routine environmental testing of wastewater collected from Bowerbird Road, China Town, Lae, in March 2025.

In a Facebook post, Health Minister Elias Kapavore described the situation as serious but manageable.

“We’ve dealt with this before and know what works,” Mr Kapavore said. “Vaccination is safe and effective, and we’re acting quickly to protect children.”

The planned response includes at least two rounds of nationwide vaccination. Parents and caregivers are strongly encouraged to bring their children for immunization during the upcoming campaigns.

If enough people in a community are immunized against polio, the virus will be deprived of susceptible hosts and will die out. 

Furthermore, the Government stated it is 'committed to maintaining Papua New Guinea’s polio-free status.'

Last week, the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) reported poliovirus cases and positive environmental isolates detected in Pakistan, Algeria, Burkina Faso, Chad, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Sudan. As of May 14, 2025, more information on the countries and others is posted at this GPEI link.