Health Alert – U. S. Embassy Port Moresby – July 13, 2018
Location: Papua New Guinea
On July 12, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released a Level 2 Travel Warning for Papua New Guinea (PNG) regarding the recent outbreak of Polio in the Morobe Province. The recent World Health Organization (WHO) and Global Polio Eradication Initiative announcements also list PNG as a Polio outbreak country.
Actions to Take:
- The CDC recommends that all travelers to PNG be fully vaccinated against the disease. Adults who have already been fully vaccinated as a child should receive a single lifetime booster dose of polio vaccine before travel.
- Further, WHO currently recommends all residents and long-term visitors in PNG receive a dose of oral polio vaccine (OPV) or inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) booster between 4 weeks and 12 months prior to international travel.
- For updated recommendations and information on the outbreak, please review the CDC website for PNG, the Polio Vaccine Information Statement (VIS), and the WHO website for PNG.
- As proof of vaccination, travelers should carry an official certificate of vaccination or the World Health Organization International Certificate of Vaccination (‘yellow booklet’).
For those travelers transiting through Australia on their way to PNG, please note that Australia may now require proof of vaccination at the time of your visa application (including an ETA visa). The Australian Department of Home Affairs can request evidence of vaccination from visa applicants who have spent 28 days or longer in PNG, and who are aged 6 weeks and over. Travelers who already hold a valid Australian visa are not subject to this requirement. For updated information on Australian visa requirements, please visit the Australian High Commission website.
Assistance:
U.S. Embassy Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea
Phone number: +675-321-1455
After Hours for American Citizens: +675-7200-9439
Email address: ConsularPortMoresby@state.gov
Embassy website: https://pg.usembassy.gov/
U.S. State Department – Consular Affairs
+1-888-407-4747 or +1-202-501-4444
Country Information Page for Papua New Guinea
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