Child dies from polio in PNG's Enga Province

11:13 am on 2 October 2018

A child from Papua New Guinea's Enga Province has died from polio.

polio vaccination

Photo: 123RF

The health department said the child died when the muscles around their lungs became paralysed as a result of the virus.

The World Health Organisation said it was the first death since the outbreak was confirmed in June.

Fourteen cases have now been confirmed in six provinces, with Jiwaka the latest to see polio re-emerge.

A nation-wide vaccination campaign is about to begin in PNG.

Read more: How Papua New Guinea brought back polio

Vaccination rates have plummeted since the country was first declared polio-free in 2000, which authorities say has contributed to the outbreak.

Since the outbreak was confirmed, an army of health workers has been deployed to provide vaccines, which consist of three rounds of droplets.

Since the outbreak was confirmed, an army of health workers has been deployed to provide vaccines, which consist of three rounds of droplets. Photo: Supplied / World Health Organisation

The WHO said 9,000 workers are being mobilised across 22 provinces for the campaign.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs