A mutation of the COVID-19 virus that is "10 times" more infectious has been detected in Malaysia.

The country's Health Ministry director-general Noor Hisham Abdullah said the community had to be more careful, after a D614G mutation of the novel coronavirus was detected.

"It is found to be 10 times easier to infect other individuals and easier to spread, if spread by 'super spreader' individuals," Dr Noor Hisham said in a statement posted on his Facebook page on Sunday (Aug 16).

The mutation was detected by the Malaysian Institute for Medical Research, as a result of isolation and culture tests on three cases from the country's Sivagangga cluster and one case from the Ulu Tiram cluster.

"So far, these two clusters have been found to be under control as a result of the swift public health control actions," said Dr Noor Hisham. "This initial test and several follow-up tests are being conducted to test several other cases, including for the index case for the two clusters."

He added the D614G mutation was discovered by scientists in July, and is likely to cause current vaccine research to be incomplete or ineffective towards this mutation.

Dr Noor Hisham advised the public to continue to apply preventive measures and public health control by taking measures including physical distancing, self-hygiene practices and wearing face masks.