New recommendation on Japanese encephalitis vaccination for travellers to Papua New Guinea

To the Editor: The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) is responsible for maintaining and updating the Australian immunisation handbook, on behalf of the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC).1 At its 25th meeting, in April 2004, ATAGI discussed data (then unpublished) presented by Hanson and colleagues on evidence for the spread of Japanese encephalitis virus beyond the Western Province of Papua New Guinea to the Port Moresby region.2 ATAGI believes it is probable the virus has spread to other parts of Papua New Guinea.