Shanghai encourages residents to report live poultry trade

Shanghai residents are being encouraged to report violators during a ban on live poultry trade in the city.

According to the municipal government, live poultry markets will be closed from Jan 31 to April 30, as part of efforts to avoid the spread of the H7N9 bird flu virus, Shanghai Morning Post reported.

Residents who discover violators can call 12345 or 12319 to complain, the newspaper said.

Since last week, the city has carried out a campaign to clean up local live poultry markets, food wholesale markets and local communities. Daily patrols were increased in case peddlers sell live poultry illegally.