A new type of flu drug?to treat the deadly H7N9 bird flu virus was approved by the Chinese authorities on Saturday.

China has approved a new type of flu drug to treat H7N9 bird flu virus.?

According to the China Food and Drug Administration, preliminary tests have proved that injections of peramivir diluted in sodium chloride injection may be effective in treating H7N9 bird flu virus.

Peramivir is a neuraminidase inhibitor.

Two more people in Shanghai were confirmed infected with H7N9 bird flu strain, local authorities said Saturday.

As of Saturday, China has confirmed 18 H7N9 cases -- eight in Shanghai, six in Jiangsu, three in Zhejiang and one in Anhui, in the first known human infections of the lesser-known strain. Of all, four in Shanghai and two in Zhejiang have died.