Local health authorities in this mountainous county Fengshun of south China's Guangdong Province are working all out to prevent the spread of diseases among people affected by floods.

"As the floods are decreasing, it is of great importance for us to increase efforts on disease control and healthcare," Zeng Qingzhu, director of the Fengshun Health Bureau, said.

The county has a population of 673,000, and 127,000 have been affected by floods caused by heavy rains over the past few days.

As of yesterday, eight villages in Huangjin, the hardest-hit town in the county, were still flooded as light rains continued. Four country roads were closed, local government sources said.

"Work on disease control and healthcare has been going on very well, and the county so far has not reported any deaths," Zeng, who led a group of doctors to inspect flood-hit areas yesterday, told China Daily.

Infectious diseases, such as cholera, typhoid fever and diarrhea, can easily occur in flood-hit areas, Zeng said.

He said six medical teams consisting of 200 doctors have been dispatched to the hard-hit areas, including the towns of Huangjin, Luohuang and Dalonghua, situated along the Lianhua Mountain range.

"They have been working there for four days, and have set up temporary medical stations," Zeng said.

Four people suffering from serious diseases have been sent to the county central hospital for treatment.

So far, the local government has distributed medicines worth 120,000 yuan (US$15,400) in the flood-hit areas.

"We need at least 600,000 yuan for health care and disease control after the floods subside. All affected villagers will receive free medical checkups," Zeng said.

His bureau has also issued a series of disease-control brochures, calling on people to take every precaution.

(China Daily June 15, 2007)