International media reports say scientists in Australia have identified how the body's immune system fights the COVID-19 virus.

Their research, published in Nature Medicine journal on Tuesday, shows people are recovering from the new virus like they would from the flu, according to the BBC.

Determining which immune cells are appearing should also help with vaccine development, experts say.

The research by Melbourne's Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity has been praised by other experts, with one calling it "a breakthrough".

Many people have recovered from COVID-19, meaning it was already known that the immune system can successfully fight the virus.

But for the first time, the research has reportedly identified four types of immune cells which presented to fight COVID-19.

They were observed by tracking a patient who had a mild-to-moderate case of the virus and no previous health issues.

Globally, authorities have confirmed 198,716 cases of the coronavirus and 7,989 deaths.