He said none of the health ministry officers treating patients with the H5N1 virus had been infected.

Responding to an additional question by Ikmal Hisham Abdul Aziz (Umno-Tanah Merah) at the Dewan Rakyat today, Subramaniam said his officers had been told to take protective measures before treating others.

“It is a priority for our officers to look after (themselves) before they can look after others,” he said, adding that the officers had been told to put on face masks and gloves when treating patients.

The minister said according to the veterinary department, as of now, the virus had been detected in 28 spots in six districts in Kelantan. The districts are Kota Bharu, Pasir Mas, Tumpat, Bachok, Tanah Merah and Pasir Putih.

He added that tracking operations had started within a 300-metre radius from where the flu was traced.

The health minister said that hospitals were prepared to deal with the outbreak if the avian flu spread to human beings.

“We are monitoring for respiratory and influenza cases. Hospitals have also been instructed to prepare isolation wards.”

A few days ago, Subramaniam said there were no reports that the virus had spread to humans, and that it was still limited to poultry stock within the affected area.

The outbreak was first detected on March 6.

The strain of avian flu was confirmed among chickens at a backyard farm in Kelantan, according to a report by the World Organisation for Animal Health.

Over 1,000 birds have been culled within a 2km radius of the affected areas.

The H5N1 strain – which is different from the H7N9 virus that killed at least 110 people in China so far this year – has also been detected in Cambodia in recent weeks.

As a precaution to ensure the containment of the virus, the health minister urged the veterinary service department to tighten checks at borders with Thailand.

Meanwhile, Singapore has also stepped up existing measures against bird flu in response to the outbreak in Malaysia.