There are reports that a typhoid outbreak is affecting asylum seekers and refugees on Manus Island.

Two men have been transferred from the island to Port Moresby hospital, reports say.

“Yesterday the maintenance cleaned their rooms to stop the virus spreading around,” 27-year-old Manus Island resident Shamindan Kanapadhi said late last week.

“Keeping men confined in camps lacking basic hygiene and depriving them of appropriate medical support can easily lead to this situation.”

Refugee Behnam Satah said symptoms have emerged at three camps on the island.

“We have a few people already diagnosed with typhoid and their rooms have been sterilised,” he told reporters from Manus on Friday.

“We have 15 to 20 people who are not feeling well and who have the signs of typhoid - like high fever, puking and bloody diarrhoea.”

Reports say a “suspected typhoid case” was highlighted by a Manus Island doctor on April 16.

The Australian government has issued a statement saying the alleged outbreak is; “A matter for the government of Papua New Guinea”.