Asia and Oceania

Medical facilities in Papua New Guinea are very basic.  Hospitals often run out of basic drugs/supplies and suffer from power shortages.  Evacuation by air ambulance to Australia is available in more serious cases.  You should ensure you make provision for this in your insurance cover.

Please be aware that there has been an outbreak of Cholera in the provincial capital Lae as well as in the districts of Menyama and Finschhafen in Morobe Province, which have resulted in a number of deaths. The disease is likely to spread further. The WHO website has more information.  We advise you to read our Eat and Drink Safely page for food/drink hygiene before you go.  For more general health information see the Travel Health.



Dengue and malaria occur in Papua New Guinea; these diseases are transmitted by mosquitoes. There are no vaccinations against these diseases but there are preventative measures that you can take, as advised on the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website.  You should visit your GP to discuss malaria prevention tablets.

Typhoid and dysentery can occur in Papua New Guinea. You should drink or use only boiled or bottled water and avoid ice in drinks.  If you suffer from diarrhoea during a visit to Papua New Guinea you should seek immediate medical attention.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 53,000 adults aged 15 or over in Papua New Guinea were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 1.5% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Papua New Guinea and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) or NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.  For more general health information see Travel Health and Swine Flu.

Avian Influenza

There have been no reported cases of avian influenza (Bird Flu) in Papua New Guinea during the current series of outbreaks. But the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed cases elsewhere in the region.

 

You should read this advice in conjunction with Avian and Pandemic Influenza, which gives more detailed advice and information.