October 31, 2005

China cancels pigeon race, stockpiles bird flu supplies

Organisers canceled a pigeon race and authorities were watching migratory birds for the bird flu virus, as China stepped up efforts to prevent a new outbreak, a news report said Monday.

China has reported three bird flu outbreaks in poultry over the past month. No human cases have been reported, but authorities warned Friday that people would get infected if the country did not prevent outbreaks in its huge flocks of chickens and ducks.

In Harbin, a city in the north-east, organisers cancelled a homing pigeon race for fears the birds might spread the virus, the China Daily newspaper said.

In Shanghai, medical workers were receiving emergency training and authorities were stockpiling protective clothing, disinfectants and other supplies, the report said.

"Increased surveillance on migratory birds has become a priority in many areas and local officials are setting up checkpoints to keep questionable poultry away from markets," the China Daily said.

In the southern city of Shenzhen, which bordered Hong Kong, health workers handed out brochures with hygiene information, the China Daily said.

The country has reported bird flu outbreaks on farms in the northern region of Inner Mongolia and the provinces of Anhui in the east and Hunan in central China. Authorities destroyed tens of thousands of birds in order to stop the outbreaks and have quarantined the farms.