Carrier pigeons grounded in Zhejiang

After the H7N9 virus was found in pigeon samples in Shanghai, many areas nearby have also moved to ground carrier pigeons, and suspend pigeon racing. But breeders say the decision is less about containing the virus and more about easing public concern.

Out of the sky and into their cages. These carrier pigeons are grounded.

Liao Yan, Member, Hangzhou Carrier Pigeon Association, said, "The ring it wears means this pigeon must finish a contest before it's a year old. But now that the bird flu is spreading, the carrier pigeon association has suspended races and asked us to ground all pigeons. This means the main purpose of this pigeon's life is over. Usually association members select the best pigeons to wear this ring, and some spend thousands of RMB to buy a pigeon."

Wu Guoxiu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, said, "Nearly 100,000 carrier pigeons in Zhejiang alone are being grounded. For their owners, the suspension of contests not only means they are losing the possibility to win big prizes, usually amounting to tens of thousand yuan for the winner in a single race, but also that their efforts in training for a whole year are in vain."

Liao Yan sees the decision to ground the pigeons as mostly meant to ease public concern.

Liao Yan, Member, Hangzhou Carrier Pigeon Association, said, "There hasn't been a report anywhere in the whole world that anyone has been infected with the bird flu from raising pigeons. Pigeons have really high body temperatures and strong immune systems, which means there's a very low possibility that the virus can survive in them."

But for residents, they feel safer with the pigeons temporarily kept in their cages.

Hangzhou Resident said, "The breeders must feel bad for caging their pigeons, but as the bird flu spreads, I think it's better to cage them. I hope they understand our worries."

Infectious disease expert Doctor Li Lanjuan says extra safety precautions are necessary.

Dr. Li Lanjuan, Infectious Disease Expert, School Of Medicine, Zhejiang University, said, "People should be careful about touching birds and fowl, especially in areas that have reported cases of the H7N9 virus infection."

The Hangzhou Carrier Pigeon Association is also vaccinating the city's carrier pigeons free of charge. The vaccine, however, is for another type of bird flu. So far, there is still no vaccine for the H7N9 virus.

Special report: H7N9 avian influenza