The revelation followed the death on Tuesday of a man also thought to be infected with the H5N1 strain of avian influenza that has killed at least 70 people across Asia since 2003.

If confirmed, the two deaths would be the 10th and 11th in Indonesia.

"The boy showed strong indications of bird flu virus infection but he died around 7:20 this morning (0020 GMT), before he could be moved to the Sulianti Saroso hospital," said hospital spokesman Ilham Patu.

The hospital is Indonesia's main centre for treating bird flu.

The boy from East Jakarta died at a private Muslim hospital in Central Jakarta after being treated there for four days, he said.

He was initially thought to be suffering from dengue fever but showed symptoms of bird flu, such as respiratory difficulties, pneumonia and a very low white blood cell count, Patu said.

A confirmed bird flu victim who died on November 8 lived in the same residential area as the boy, records show.

Patu said samples were being taken from the dead boy for tests, while local test results of the 39-year-old man who died Tuesday were not yet available.

Health authorities test suspected cases locally before sending positive results to facilities overseen by the World Health Organization (WHO) in Hong Kong for verification.

Indonesia confirmed its ninth avian flu victim on Tuesday. Five other Indonesians have been confirmed as infected with the virus but have recovered.

Indonesia's health system, already overstretched by last year's deadly tsunami and a reemergence of polio, has been under strain preparing for a potential major outbreak of avian influenza.

Scientists warn that continued contact between infected birds and humans may eventually result in the virus mutating into a form that could be easily passed on by humans, sparking a pandemic that could kill millions.

Indonesia -- accused of covering up initial outbreaks of bird flu -- has pledged a year-long fight against the virus.

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