The Malaysian Ministry of Health is stockpiling antiviral medicine in preparation for the possible outbreak of avian flu, its Minister Chua Soi Lek said on Thursday.

The antiviral medicine, which includes Tamiflu, is expected to cover 20 percent to 30 percent of the Malaysian population, Chua said, adding that the ministry would also stockpile some vaccine for the medical staff.

The ministry has already prepared some medicine but it needs more allocation to achieve the target percentage, Chua told reporters after opening the 7th Asian Dermatology Congress here.

"We are still discussing (the total allocation with the government) as it costs between 400 million ringgit (106.38 million US dollars) and 500 million ringgit (132.98 million US dollars)," he said.

The Cabinet on Wednesday directed the ministry and the Agriculture and Agro-Based Industry Ministry to work together in preventing and preparing for the possible bird flu outbreak, Chua said.

Chua said his ministry had already set up a national committee to work out measures and guidelines to fight the disease.

"These includes surveillance for the influenza-like illness at all government and private clinics and any cases detected will be reported directly to the ministry," he said.

Laboratories at the Institute for Medical Research, Institute of Public Health and Medical Faculty at University Malaya have been designated to conduct the testing of the samples identified, he said.

Health authorities in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Brunei have close cooperation with each other and share information on any avian flu cases detected in their own countries, Chua said.

Source: Xinhua