Summary
The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea and urged for a quick vaccination drive. The virus was found in two children during health checks, and less than half of the population in the country is vaccinated against polio.
Key Facts
- WHO declared a polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea.
- The virus was detected in two healthy children during a health screening.
- The country has low vaccination rates, with less than 50% of people immunized against polio.
- Polio is a contagious disease that mainly affects young children and can cause paralysis.
- The last polio outbreak in Papua New Guinea was in 2018.
- The current virus strain is linked to one found in Indonesia, a neighboring country.
- Efforts are being made to vaccinate all children under 10, aiming to cover 3.5 million people.
- WHO, UNICEF, and Australia's government are helping with the vaccination efforts.
- There is uneven vaccination coverage, with some areas having as low as 8% coverage.
