A second batch of pigeons has been found dead in Malaysia raising fears of an outbreak of the bird flu virus that has claimed more than 60 lives in Southeast Asia since 2003, an official said today.

At least 11 pigeons have died in Kedah since Thursday and tests are being carried out to determine whether they had the deadly H5N1 virus.

"The death of the pigeons is a cause for concern," Veterinary Services Department director- general Hawari Hussein told AFP , adding that the test results would be known by tomorrow.

Last week some pigeons were found dead in Bidor, Perak, but tests ruled out the bird flu virus.

"The pigeons are likely to be free of bird flu virus like the previous case but we want to make sure," Hawari said.

Malaysia had an outbreak of the virus in poultry in northern Kelantan last year, but stamped it out and has been disease-free since.

"At the moment, there is no indication of a bird flu case in the country but we have to be careful under the current situation," said Kedah veterinary department director Quaza Nizamuddin Hassan Nizam.

The country has been on high alert with 13 human deathd from bird flu in neighbouring Thailand.