Prevention of diseases a crucial task

A Chinese health official warned that prevention of disease epidemics will be a key task in the quake-hit areas of Nepal as China promised continued aid to help the country's reconstruction.

Mao Qun'an, a spokesman for the National Health and Family Planning Commission, said at a news conference on Thursday that completion of the search and rescue effort means attention must be turned to preventing plague and other diseases.

"We are well aware that the chance of a plague breakout is very high, as history has suggested in past natural disasters. We hope we can prevent such breakouts through our concerted effort with Nepal authorities," he said.