Culls Begin, Markets Closed In Shanghai; H7N9 Detected In Pigeons

[hatrack]

BEIJING (AP) — China announced a sixth death from a new bird flu strain Friday, while authorities in Shanghai halted the sale of live fowl and slaughtered all poultry at a market where the virus was detected in pigeons being sold for meat.

The mass bird killing is the first so far as the Chinese government responds to the H7N9 strain of bird flu, which has sickened 16 people, many critically, along the eastern seaboard in its first known infections of people. The first cases were announced Sunday, while two more were reported Friday, both retirees who were seriously ill.

Health officials believe people are contracting the virus through direct contact with infected fowl and say there has been no evidence so far that the virus is spreading easily between people. However, scientists are watching closely to see if the flu poses a substantial risk to public health or could potentially spark a global pandemic.

The Agriculture Ministry confirmed late Thursday that the H7N9 virus had been detected in live pigeons on sale at a produce market in Shanghai. The killing of birds at the Huhuai market in Shanghai started Thursday night after the city's agricultural committee ordered it in a notice also posted on its website.

EDIT

http://www.sfgate.com/news/medical/article/China-kills-market-birds-as-flu-found-in-pigeons-4408957.php

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. Pigeons? They eat pigeons?

Wonder if the birds are raised for food or someone just nets a flock in the city or............

[hatrack]

2. Yeah, for food - they're commonly found in markets, apparently

Used to be the same here - squab, mourning doves, passenger pigeons . . .

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Trying to wrap my mind around the plucking and cleaning

of those small birds.

Down here they have "dove season"...with shotguns.....
or hell, they may be using A-47s for all I know
but I cannot imagine actually eating what is left of those birds.

Now, rabbit..that is a whole nother story.....

[Mojorabbit]

5. I have eaten dove

The breast is what is normally used and it is really tasty. The people that send it to me just peel the skin and save the meat which makes it an easy cleaning of the bird. No plucking needed.

[Lochloosa]

6. Pigeons are eaten in quite a few countries. It's not that uncommon.

[Mojorabbit]

4. Up to 18 cases now. nt