The health ministry has assured Sabah residents that there was no cause for alarm over the H5N1 bird flu virus outbreak involving poultry in neighbouring Indonesia.

Deputy Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said the situation was under control and that various efforts and preventive measures were being undertaken by the ministry and relevant agencies.

"The bird flu in Indonesia is under control and no case has been reported in Sabah," she told reporters when met at the 1Malaysia Astro Youth Fiesta carnival here Saturday.

The Papar member of parliament said the ministry was also collaborating with the local immigration department to monitor the entry of illegal immigrants into the state.