More than 60,000 pigeons used for a local sport in east China's Zhejiang Province have been grounded for vaccinations as the H7N9 avian influenza virus spreads in the country.
The pigeons in Hangzhou, the provincial capital, will be injected with bird flu vaccines within a week.
The vaccine, however, will guard them against another type of bird flu, not the new, lesser-known H7N9 virus, said Wang Guanrong, secretary general of the city's carrier pigeon association.
"The vaccine specifically for the H7N9 virus has not been developed yet," Wang SAID.
The association has also distributed disinfectant fluid to carrier pigeon enthusiasts.
Liao Yan, a member of the association, said the move to cage the pigeons was intended to ease public concern, as the H7N9 virus seldom spreads through live pigeons.
"The body temperature of pigeons is 42 degrees Celsius, which leaves a very low possibility that the virus can survive," Liao said, adding that people can not be infected unless they come into contact with infected birds that have died.
