Live poultry markets (wet markets) have been identified as a risk factor in the genesis of novel influenza viruses 49 and were identified as the source of the human outbreak of HP H5N1 viruses in Hong Kong. The ban on ducks, geese, and later, quail, together with improved biosecurity (clean days), have markedly reduced the influenza virus diversity in the Hong Kong wet markets. 37 Live poultry markets are being phased out in Hong Kong, and in the interim no live poultry can be carried over from 1 day to the next. Taiwan plans to close all live poultry markets by 2009, and Shanghai authorities are reducing the number of wet markets. Overall, however, the role of live poultry markets in the emergence and control of pandemic influenza has been largely ignored. Universal closure of live markets would make biological sense but is difficult in regions where refrigeration is not widely available.