Fourteen Asian health ministers have been invited to Malaysia this week to discuss the region's response to the SARS virus, which has killed 225, mostly Asians, so far.

Malaysian Health Minister Datuk Chua Jui Meng said the 10 members of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) and China, Hong Kong, South Korea and Japan were invited to a two-day meeting in the administrative capital of Putrajaya starting on Friday, state run Bernama news agency reported on Tuesday.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) has infected over 4,000 people in 25 countries, with Asia bearing the brunt after the mystery virus broke out in southern China late last year.

The ministerial talks come just a few days ahead of an ASEAN summit on SARS in Bangkok on April 29. The summit will be extended for an extra day if China sends a representative.