Togo's Health Ministry made an official announcement about the outbreak of bird flu in the West African nation of Togo for the first time since last year.

The ministry said in a statement that the virus was detected in the village of Agbata outside the capital, Lome. This virus was detected at a poultry farm, housing more than 4,500 birds in Agbata. It added that it was not known how many birds had died, but more than 80 per cent of those infected by the flu were fatalities. Sale of all chicken and poultry products in the region around the farm has been banned by the health ministry.

Ministry has not revealed any details concerning the type of bird flu. It is not clear whether the birds were infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus or another variation..

H5N1 strain has taken life of 235 people worldwide since 2003. Scientists all over the world are worried about the potential of this virus to infect human beings. Human beings get this virus on contact with infected birds. But experts fear that this virus can mutate into a form which can pass easily from one person to other. This will spark a pandemic which will take millions of lives.