Cholera spreads, Papua New Guinea

This item appears on page 19 of the April 2010 issue.

The first cholera outbreak in Papua New Guinea in over 50 years started last July and has spread in three provinces: northern Morobe, Madang and East Sepik. The World Health Organization confirmed in February that there have been more than 2,000 cases, including almost 50 deaths. The disease is spreading due to poor water supplies and sanitation and the movement of infected people.