The New Ireland Provincial Health Authority (NIPHA) has confirmed a measles outbreak in the province after laboratory tests verified a positive case, prompting health authorities to prepare a mass vaccination campaign to contain the disease.

Acting Chief Executive Officer Dominic Sahamie said the outbreak was detected after the PHA received reports of 84 suspected measles cases through the PHA Health Information System on June 12.

A rapid response team was deployed on June 14th to investigate the reports, which traced the suspected cases to Neitab Island in the Puas catchment area of Lavongai LLG.

"The rapid response team identified seven cases from the source and collected seven samples, which were sent to the National Department of Health and later verified by a laboratory in Australia," Sahamie said.

"The result came back with a positive case."

He said health authorities had already organised logistics to deploy teams to the affected community to begin a mass vaccination campaign if further laboratory testing confirms the case was naturally acquired rather than vaccine related.

"We are waiting for another test result to determine whether this measles case is from the environment or vaccine-derived," he said.

"If it is not vaccine-derived, then we will carry out a mass vaccination at the epicentre."

Shahamie said under public health protocols, a single confirmed measles case constitutes an outbreak, requiring an immediate response.

"As soon as there is one confirmed case of measles, it is already considered an outbreak," he said.

He said the National Department of Health had directed the PHA to urgently contain the outbreak while awaiting the remaining laboratory results.

Health authorities have established logistics and response teams to ensure a rapid rollout of vaccinations if required.