A Guangzhou-based expert on respiratory diseases, says anybody infected with the new strain of bird flu virus, H7N9, can be cured if treated early with the anti-flu drug, Tamiflu. Zhong Nanshan, who was involved in the SARS outbreak, says early diagnosis and treatment are key to tackling the disease.

"If high fever is found and the leukocyte is not high, these kinds of patients should be on high alert. Tamiflu is effective for all patients and the early use of tamiflu can reduce severity and the death rate." Zhong Nanshan , respiratory disease expert said.

Zhong says a regular dose of Tamiflu has little side effect. He also says if patients have high fever, their lymphocyte is low, have shortness of breath and are over 65 and have underlying conditions, doctors should consider them as high-risk cases. If their hospital has no experience in treating bird flu, they should be transferred as soon as possible. China's National Health and Family Planning Commission, says 26 people have so far died in the current outbreak of H7N9 bird flu which has affected 127.

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