The health sector is on high alert in Cameroon following the reported distribution and sale of a batch of contaminated cough syrup.

Sounding the alarm on Wednesday, the World Health Organization WHO confirmed that the syrup has an unacceptable amount of contaminant chemicals.

Identified as Naturcold syrup by WHO Africa regional office, the medicine contains paracetamol, phenylephrine hydrochloride, and chlorpheniramine maleate — a combination used to relieve symptoms associated with the common cold, flu, and allergic rhinitis;