A cholera outbreak has hit the island nation of Papua New Guinea, killing around 40 people and sickening more than 2,000. The island has witnessed such an outbreak for the first time in past 50 years.

Eigil Sorenson, a WHO representative has warned that spreading across several provinces, the disease could become a pandemic, if the government does not do more to educate people and ensure their access to clean water.

"There is no sign the epidemic is contained. Most of the deaths have occurred in newly affected areas before awareness of the disease has reached the community", he said.

Cholera is primarily a water-borne disease and it usually occurs in settlements with poor water sanitation.

According to the public health department, the disease was first reported in temporary settlements around the provincial capital of Lae, and then spread to neighboring provinces.

"The government can do more than what is being done at the moment. We don't pay much attention to the whole issue of the water supply and sanitation, and particularly awareness on the part of the communities", said Eigil Posami, a Public Health Department Official.