Zambian officials have discovered more than 40 dead wild birds in the southern city of Livingstone, and have asked residents who ate any meat from the birds to report for medical examinations.

The chief veterinary officer in the southern tourist town, Jack Shoko, said he sent samples of the dead birds to the capital of Lusaka to be tested for bird flu.

Zambia has not yet reported any cases of bird flu in animals or humans. In March, the government banned poultry imports.

The World Health Organization says the bird flu virus cannot be contracted by eating cooked poultry. But it warns people should not eat improperly cooked meat in areas where there are outbreaks of the virus.

Two African countries, Egypt and Djibouti, have confirmed cases of bird flu in humans this year.