(Hu Yinan and Shan Juan)
Updated: 2008-05-15 07:29

Two temporary field hospitals will be set up in Wenchuan - the earthquake's epicenter - the Ministry of Health said on Wednesday.

Also, a team will be established in the provincial capital of Chengdu to coordinate the provision of healthcare resources in affected areas, health spokesperson Mao Qun'an said.

There are already 4,000 medical workers in quake-struck cities in Sichuan, Mao told China Daily on a flight to Chengdu on Wednesday.

Thanks to tens of thousands of people making donations, the blood bank for the disaster-relief work is now almost fully stocked, Mao said.

The only shortage is of AB-type blood, he said.

In another development, the Chinese Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) said on Wednesday that disease prevention work will be a major challenge over the next three to five days.

A team of eight experts from the center, all experienced in post-disaster epidemic containment, was dispatched yesterday to coordinate efforts, Feng Zijian, director of the CDC's emergency response department, told China Daily.

"The priority is to prevent epidemics in the areas affected by the quake," he said.

The team will survey affected areas, assess public health and safety, and provide guidance for stemming epidemics, he said.

Major concerns include water and food safety, and the disposal of rubbish and human waste at makeshift shelters.

"Outbreaks could become a threat if these issues are neglected," he said.

Preventative work should focus on contagious diseases, such as intestinal and respiratory infections, Feng said.

There is also the threat of diseases transmitted by pests, such as malaria and dengue fever, which flourish in warm weather, he said.

"The proper and sanitary disposal of quake victims' bodies is also important," Feng said.

The bodies could pose a considerable health risk if not handled appropriately, he said.

"We've already recommended bodies be sealed in special bags and stored far away from shelter areas."

But the priorities remain searching for people still trapped in the rubble, treating the injured and caring for survivors, Feng said.

In another development, the PLA has dispatched 70 medical teams to affected areas, its general logistics department said on Wednesday.

Fifty of the teams were sent from PLA hospitals in Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an, Shaanxi province.

They left at 2 pm yesterday headed for Shuangliu Airport in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province.

Ninety medical staffers from the General Hospital of the Beijing Area Command and 30 from the No 261 Hospital of the Beijing Area Command joined the mission.