Four men and a woman were hospitalized in Malaysia for bird flu-like symptoms, according to the Malaysian Health Ministry on Friday.

The five, aged between 11 months and 35 years old, were living within the 300m radius of the area, where chickens were tested positive for deadly H5N1 bird flu virus.

"They went to the hospital to get treatment and have been isolated because of the symptoms," the ministry said in a statement, adding that they were in stable condition.

"So far, there"e;s still no case which meets the definition of the avian influenza infection among humans detected," it said.

Malaysian officials Wednesday confirmed that H5N1 strain of bird flu virus had been detected in a village of Selangor State near here.

This was the first bird flu case in the country after an outbreak in February and March last year.

Source: Xinhua