A week ago, Ghana became the eighth African country to report a case of the H5N1 bird flu virus in poultry. Some 1,700 birds were culled after the discovery.

Togo authorities on Wednesday asked residents to notify veterinarians of any "sudden and massive poultry or wild bird deaths" and to avoid handling dead birds.

The country put a national bird flu plan into action in February 2006, including a national alert system, the formation of medical teams and improved surveillance.

Source: Ghana Web