Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Cholera still spreading on Papua New Guinea’s north coast

Posted at 07:43 on 08 February, 2010 UTC

The number of people affected by cholera in Papua New Guinea has now topped 2000.

The disease was first reported on the country’s north coast in July last year and since then about 40 people have died.

Morobe, Madang and East Sepik provinces have been battling outbreaks, and there has been one confirmed case in the capital, Port Moresby.

The World Health Organisation representative in PNG, Eigil Sorensen, says cholera is continuing to spread.

“We see that in East Sepik province it’s still spreading to new villages. In Morobe and Madang provinces there are ongoing transmissions still, but the numbers are quite low. Cases have passed 2000 now.”

Eigil Sorensen says the PNG government needs to provide better water access and sanitation for a long-term improvement.