Beijing experts are preparing to test DNA samples collected from unidentified bodies from areas of Thailand hit by the earthquake-triggered tsunami on December 26.

Yang Xu, from the Beijing Genomics Institute's DNA sequencing office, told China Daily yesterday that testing will begin immediately upon the samples' arrival in the coming days.

The institute, part of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, has been appointed to do DNA testing by the Thai government and is capable of testing 4,500 samples a day.

Five experts sent by the institute to help with disaster relief work arrived in Bangkok early December 31 and are working in Phuket, one of the most seriously damaged regions.

Results will be recorded in a database that the families of those missing will be able to use later to compare with their own DNA. This will help to confirm whether their relatives' remains have been found, said Yang.

Deng Yajun, head of the Chinese team, told Xinhua News Agency that they collected dental and bone samples for DNA tests instead of hair and blood in most cases, because bodies were already so decomposed.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has also invited four Chinese public health experts to join rescue missions.

Liang Guodong, Kan Biao, Liu Qiyong, and Li Xinwu from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, are all specialists in infectious diseases.

This is the first time Chinese public health experts have been invited by the WHO to help out with international emergency medical aid in other countries, according to Xing Jun, an official from the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Health.
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Teams of experts have been mobilized to help assess the most urgent health needs and ensure that they are met as rapidly as possible, said WHO Director-General Lee Jong-wook. At least 300,000 people are in urgent need of medical care.

(China Daily January 6, 2005)