YAOUNDE, Oct. 11 (Xinhua) -- Cameroon is strengthening monitoring and response systems after two cases of monkeypox were reported in the Southwest region, a health official told Xinhua Tuesday.

Filbert Eko Eko, chief of public health for the Southwest region, said the cases, which were officially reported Monday, were undergoing treatment in Kumba town of the region.

"An investigation team is already on the field to try to retrace, remap the trajectory of these cases," Eko told Xinhua over the phone. "We are sensitizing people to know that the thing (monkeypox) exists and know precautions to take not to be contaminated."

Health workers were disinfecting areas, providing hand washing galleries and "everything that has to do with physical distancing," Eko said.

Amid a global outbreak of the virus, declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation, the health sector in the Central African nation is already training staff to work on identifying and treating cases of the disease, according to the Ministry of Public Health.

Monkeypox is a contagious viral disease that occurs when the individual has very close and direct contact with an infected animal, or with infected individuals through the secretions of skin and mucosal lesions or droplets of the respiratory system. Enditem

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