Researchers studying bird flu survivors in Indonesia think the virus might be far more treatable than initially believed.

Eight-year-old Firdaus Baskara is a case in point.

Authorities quarantined him last month after his parents noticed he was coughing and had a fever. Then they learned his aunt had tested positive for the H5N1 strain of bird flu.

She died, her condition going rapidly from typical flu symptoms to pneumonia.

Once the pneumonia strikes, bird flu victims can die within three days. Doctors have learned the virus zeroes in on lung tissue, causing the lungs to fill with mucous and blood and drowning the victim.

"With the bird flu, pneumonia quickly develops. It can be very lethal," said Dr. Ilham Patu of the Sulianti Saroso Infectious Diseases Hospital in Jakarta.

But Firdaus only showed mild symptoms, and this has doctors thinking the answer lies treating the patient quickly.

"Since the virus is very lethal, patients must be treated as soon as possible. Many don't survive because they are brought in too late," Patu said.

Asian doctors say what works is treating the patient as soon as possible with the antiviral drug Tamiflu and, in some cases, giving vitamins to boost the patient's immune system.

That combination worked for Zeki Zaenuddin. He tested positive for the virus, but after treatment, no H5N1 could be found in his system.

"I had heavy fever, but I feel much better now," he said.

One problem facing doctors is there have been fewer than 100 human cases of H5N1 bird flu so far. This doesn't give them many cases to study.

There's also no guarantee that if the virus mutates into a strain that is easily transmissible between humans, it will work in the same way.

Ominously, a strain of H5N1 in Vietnam has shown some evidence of being resistant to Tamiflu, although the findings are based on one case.

Health experts also worry a general viral resistance to Tamiflu is growing in Japan. Doctors there routinely prescribe Tamiflu to treat influenza.

Tamiflu comes in pill form. Some doctors want pharmaceutical companies to develop an intravenous antiviral drug, saying it would have a faster onset and help those who might have related stomach problems.

However, with fears about bird flu rising in Canada in some circles, private demand for Tamiflu has risen to the point where manufacturer Roche Canada said it was suspending shipments until December.

With a report from CTV's Steve Chao