The Ministry of Agriculture yesterday formed six liaison work groups to help tackle major animal epidemics likely to emerge in China.

The taskforces are composed of 37 senior veterinarians and officials from relevant departments at the ministry, it said in a statement last night.

The taskforces will look at prevention and preparedness against possible outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza, foot-and-mouth disease, swine fever.

(China Daily March 31, 2005)