A health worker disinfects cages at a poultry market in Beijing Monday after the capital city ordered the shutdown of all 168 poultry markets in an effort to contain the spread of the bird flu virus. The municipal government also closed pet-bird markets, banned chicken raising in urban areas, and asked citizens to keep their pigeons in cages.

A vendor stands between empty cages at a poultry market.

An official inspects a poultry market in Beijing Monday.

Workers clean a workshop at a poultry market.

A man looks at posters on bird flu prevention.

Pet-bird vendors sit by empty cages at a bird market in Beijing yesterday after the capital city ordered the shutdown of all live poultry and pet-bird markets.

(China Daily November 8, 2005)