Malaysia has a series of measures to tackle the spread and effect of the deadly bird flu virus that has killed more than 70 people in China and Southeast Asia since late 2003.

Launching the National Influenza Pandemic Preparedness Plan yesterday, Health Minister Dr Chua Soi Lek told diplomats in Kuala Lumpur that hospitals would be upgraded and stockpiles of vaccines for poultry and antiviral drugs to treat the virus would be increased.

"Right now, the government has provided us RM60.4 million, that is for the avian and tamiflu vaccine stockpile, equipment, upgrading of hospitals, training, research and communication," he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

The number of hospitals able to treat avian flu victims would be increased, said Chua who had previously said that the proposals would include a new six-tier alert and quarantine system.

While Chua stressed the importance of preparedness, he also called for calm, saying the virus had yet to show it could be transmitted easily between humans.

"Until that potential is realised, the risk of transmission is still not that high. So, we should not over react by pressing the panic button," he said.

Simulation exercise

As part of the plan, Malaysian medical teams were preparing for a simulation exercise to test their abilities if an outbreak occurs, officials said.

"The idea is to ensure that our healthcare providers at every level understand what is in the plan and they will be able to react accordingly," said the Director-General of the Health Ministry, Ismail Merican.

"It will be executed soon," he said, adding that similar exercises had been carried out in countries such as Australia and Canada.

Malaysia had an outbreak of the virus in poultry in northern Kelantan state in 2004 but stamped it out and has been disease-free since.

Most of the more than 70 Asian deaths from bird flu since late 2003 were in Vietnam but several were also in Indonesia, which neighbours Malaysia.

European nations and world health experts are also currently on alert after Turkey reported 14 people had been infected with the disease, including two who have already died.