The Ministry of Health urged local governments Thursday to tighten prevention and control of epidemics as this year's flood season is coming.

Local health authorities must present daily epidemic reports and zero-case reports to the ministry once an epidemic or disease without clear cause breaks out, required the ministry in an announcement.

Meanwhile, medical emergency teams must get to the scene as soon as possible to stem the epidemic from spreading, it said.

The ministry also stressed food safety and control of toxic chemicals in epidemic-hit areas to curb poisoning accidents. He stressed that disinfection and vaccination work are a crucial part of disease prevention.

Flood season began in China Wednesday. The State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters has forecast heavy rainfalls and possible floods in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, the country's longest river, in the coming three months. The flood control forecast in other major drainage areas, such as the Yellow River, the Haihe River and the Pearl River are not optimistic either.

(Xinhua News Agency June 3, 2005)