Photo: The World Health Organisation
Papua New Guinea's health department says a child has been paralysed by polio.
It aid it is the first case of a child being paralysed since an outbreak of the disease was declared in May.
The World Health Organisatioin said more than 31 instances of polio had been detected as of 11 August. At the time, no cases of paralysis had been reported, but the risk of further transmission remained high due to low immunisation rates and poor access to children who lived in remote areas.
Acting secretary Ken Wai said a four-year-old unvaccinated child from Lae, in Morobe Province, was confirmed by the laboratory as having acute flaccid paralysis caused by the polio virus.
Wai is urging people to prioritise getting children under 10 years immunised against polio.
The World Health Organisation said 122 cases of rapid onset of muscle weakness have been reported, with 93 of those testing negative for one of the most common strains of polio.
"This marks a pivotal moment in the country's polio response, confirming that the virus has transitioned from environmental detection to direct impact on children," the WHO said in a statement on Thursday.
Papua New Guinea launched a nationwide supplementary immunization activity (SIA) on 11 August, targeting children under 10 years old with the novel oral polio vaccine. The campaign has been extended to 5 September to help provinces reach the critical 95 per cent coverage target.
WHO said a second round of SIA is scheduled from 29 September to 17 October, which will include both nOPV2 and inactivated polio vaccine to provide stronger and longer-lasting protection.
Dr Sevil Huseynova, WHO Representative in PNG, said polio is preventable and the vaccines are safe, effective, and free.
