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)