Government authorities are imposing compulsory vaccinations on all poultry in Shenzhen.

To prevent a possible epidemic of bird flu in the city, the city government Sunday night set up a command center for prevention and treatment of the deadly infectious bird flu with Vice Mayor Liang Daoxing the general commander.

"According to the center, every live fowl raised on every poultry farm and by every household or for sale in all poultry wholesale and retail markets in the city cannot be missed out," Dan Kui, deputy director of Shenzhen Animal Epidemic Prevention and Monitoring Center, said Monday.

He said compulsory vaccinations would include all pigeons raised for meat or carrying messages but exclude pet birds because "no scientific proof has been found that vaccination will have an effect on them."

The city government would provide free vaccine for all poultry farms and every household in every village in the city, Dan said.

He is predicting a probable peak period for chicken consumption around the Lantern Festival, which falls on Feb. 5 this year.

(Shenzhen Daily February 3, 2004)