Malaysia has not detected any case of bird flu to date, said Deputy Health Minister Dr Abdul Latiff Ahmad in the wake an outbreak in neighbouring Indonesia.

"We are pleased that Malaysia has showed no sign that the H5N1 strain of bird flu has spread here," he said at a press conference in the Parliament lobby today.

Abdul Latiff said the government is being constantly alert for signs of bird flu and will continue with stringent surveillance at entry points and hospitals.

Indonesia has reported a bird flu outbreak which has claimed four lives recently. This has caused alarm in Malaysia and other neighbouring countries.

Those arriving from affected countries will have to undergo routine checks at entry points under the customs and immigration quarantine surveillance system.

'Make preparations'

The Veterinary Services Department told local dailies yesterday that it is monitoring migratory bird sanctuaries near poultry farms, while checks will be tightened over imported birds.

While Malaysia has no known case of human infection, a bird flu scare occurred in August last year in Kelantan.

Thousands of chickens were culled before the authorities declared the country free of the virus.

Meanwhile, news agency Reuters reports that the share price of several Malaysian poultry companies dipped this morning as the market reacted to the news from Indonesia.

A separate report said governments were stock-piling antiviral drugs, which are already in short supply, in anticipation of an outbreak.

Yesterday, the World Health Organisation urged countries to prepare for a bird flu pandemic, particularly in countries lacking in resources to deal with it.

It also said Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia have reported a total of 114 bird flu cases which resulted in 56 deaths from Jan 28 last year up to today.