In July 2011, banana plants displaying symptoms typical of bunchy top were observed in Dangbo Commune, Ouémé Department, Benin. Until now, Cameroon was the western most frontier of Banana bunchy top virus presence in sub-Saharan Africa. The New Disease Report underscores an urgent need for intensive surveys in neighbouring countries and implementation of strict phytosanitary measures to prevent movement of planting material from the infected zones and to prevent further spread of BBTV.
