Travelling? Check what you need
Vaccines and precautions for your destination.
Papua New Guinea
Required
1
Poliomyelitis
Circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) is present. Proof of polio vaccination, or vaccination at the port of entry, is required.
Disease guide
- Definition
- An acute, highly contagious viral disease caused by the poliovirus.
- Symptoms
- Signs range from mild symptoms without paralysis (fever, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting and neck stiffness) to acute flaccid paralysis.
- Incubation period
- Ranges from 3 to 35 days, usually 7 to 14 days.
- Prevention
- Travellers to and from affected countries should receive a booster dose of polio vaccine 4 weeks to 12 months before travel and carry an international vaccination certificate as specified in Annex 6 of the IHR.
- Precautions
- Travellers to and from affected countries should receive a booster dose of polio vaccine 4 weeks to 12 months before travel and carry an international vaccination certificate as specified in Annex 6 of the IHR.
Recommended
3
Malaria
Malaria is present in this country. Follow the personal-protection precautions below.
Disease guide
- Definition
- A parasitic disease transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected female Anopheles mosquito.
- Symptoms
- Unexplained fever and/or other clinical signs such as headache, back pain, chills, sweating, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting, often with an enlarged spleen and anaemia.
- Incubation period
- From several days to one month.
- Prevention
- Travellers to affected countries should obtain chemoprophylaxis. Avoid the outdoors after sunset, use repellents and insecticides, sleep under nets, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
- Precautions
- Travellers to affected countries should obtain chemoprophylaxis. Avoid the outdoors after sunset, use repellents and insecticides, sleep under nets, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
Zika virus
Zika virus transmission occurs. Protect against mosquito bites; pregnant women should postpone travel.
Disease guide
- Definition
- A viral disease transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.
- Symptoms
- Raised temperature, skin rash, conjunctival redness, muscle and joint pain, headache and general weakness.
- Incubation period
- 14 days.
- Prevention
- Pregnant women should postpone travel to protect the foetus; if travel is essential, follow personal protection against mosquito bites. Use repellents, sleep under nets, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
- Precautions
- Pregnant women should postpone travel to protect the foetus; if travel is essential, follow personal protection against mosquito bites. Use repellents, sleep under nets, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
Japanese encephalitis
Japanese encephalitis is present in this country. Follow the personal-protection precautions below.
Disease guide
- Definition
- A viral disease transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.
- Symptoms
- Most infections are mild (fever and headache) or without symptoms; about 1 in 250 cases progresses to severe illness (fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, coma, seizures and spastic paralysis).
- Incubation period
- 5 to 15 days.
- Prevention
- No mandatory vaccination; observe personal protection against mosquito bites. Use repellents, sleep under nets, and wear long sleeves and trousers.
- Precautions
- No mandatory vaccination; observe personal protection against mosquito bites. Use repellents, sleep under nets, and wear long sleeves and trousers.