Malaysia has imposed a ban on imports of pet birds to prevent an outbreak of the deadly avian influenza after the virus was detected in a parrot in Britain, a report said Thursday.

"Malaysia imports a lot of pet birds from overseas," Veterinary Services Department director-general Hawari Hussein was quoted as saying in the New Straits Times.

"We are worried that the virus may enter the country through these birds," he said.

Malaysia has imported 7,918 pet birds this year, mainly from the Netherlands, Belgium, Jamaica and Singapore, the daily reported.

The European Union barred imports of pet birds after the virus was detected in a dead parrot held in quarantine in Britain. The deadly H5N1 strain has also been detected in Croatia, Romania, Russia and Turkey.

Taking all precautions

Hawari said the ban would remain in force until the situation in Europe was resolved.

"We have to take all precautions to avert an outbreak here," he said, adding that authorities were closely monitoring migratory birds, which are believed to be spreading the virus across the globe.

Malaysia, which suffered a bird flu outbreak in 2004, is currently free from the disease but has been on full alert since the virus hit neighbouring Indonesia and Thailand.

The country has already drafted a contingency plan to deal with bird flu which has killed at least 62 people in Asia in the past two years.

Malaysia is also trying to stockpile doses of anti-viral drug Tamiflu but so far has only accumulated enough to treat a fraction of its population.