Papua New Guinea Bandiera della Papua New Guinea

Cartina geografica della Papua New Guinea

 General informations

Country Name

Independent State of Papua New Guinea

Continent

Oceania

Surface area

452,860 km²

Capital

Port Moresby

Population

5,545,000 (approx.)

Language

English

Currency

Kina (PGK)

Time zone

-9hrs compared to Italy

Area code for Italy

0539

Area code from Italy

00675

 Prevention

Yellow fever

Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for all travellers aged 1 year or over arriving from at-risk countries or travellers who transit for more than 12 hours at airports in high-risk countries.

Cholera

Cholera is spread by the consumption of contaminated food and water. Vaccination is recommended, especially if you intend to travel to rural areas where the disease is widespread and there is limited access to clean water.

Japanese encephalitis

This viral disease is transmitted by the bite of infected ticks. Vaccination is recommended for prolonged stays in rural regions, particularly between May and October.

Hepatitis A and B

Hepatitis A is usually transmitted by contaminated food and water, or close physical contact with an infected person, whereas Hepatitis B is transmitted by exposure to infected body fluids and blood.

Polio

Polio is typically transmitted by contaminated food and water and can be caused by three different types of polio viruses. Infections caused by one type of virus do not protect against the others. The disease is currently not active in the country, but there is a risk of re-emergence of the disease.

Rabies

Infection typically occurs through contact with the saliva of an infected animal, usually caused by bites, scratches or licks near open wounds or mucous membranes (e.g. mouth, nose, eyes). The most common vectors are dogs and bats, but cases of infection in other domestic animals have also been reported.

Tetanus

Caused by toxins released by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, the risk of tetanus infection is present throughout the country.

Typhus

Bacterial in origin, typhoid fever is transmitted through contaminated food and drink, especially in regions with inadequate sanitary conditions.

Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is an airborne disease of bacterial origin. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers at risk of developing severe symptoms or coming into contact with infected individuals. It is also recommended for all travellers under the age of 16 who plan to stay in the country for more than 3 months.

Malaria

Transmitted by the bites of infected mosquito, malaria is prevalent in the country all-year-round in regions below an altitude of 1,800 metres. As a vaccine is still not available, you must take careful precautions to avoid mosquito bites and in some cases it may be necessary to take antimalarial medication, after thorough evaluation by a qualified doctor.

Chikungunya, Dengue, Zika

These diseases are spread by the bites of infected mosquitos and there are no vaccines. Consequently, it is important to adopt careful behavioural and preventive measures.

The following vaccinations are strongly recommended as these diseases can be contracted anywhere in the world. Experts advise that you protect yourself and other travellers by making sure you are up-to-date with all of the recommended vaccinations. This will allow you to travel safely, while minimising the risk of exposure to infection.

 Territory and climate

Papua New Guinea is a country in Oceania that comprises the eastern section of New Guinea (which it shares with Indonesia) and other smaller islands.

The territory is mountainous in the north and central regions, with elevations as high as 4,000 meters that proceed extend to the eastern point of the country. In contrast, the southwestern region consists of vast plains and an irregular coastline formed by the many deep river estuaries that flow here.

The climate is generally hot and humid, with average temperatures of 30°C in the lowlands. These temperatures decrease as you ascend into the highlands, where significant daily temperature ranges excursions can occur. Rainfall is concentrated between December and May and is abundant across the territory, increasing in intensity at higher altitudes.

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