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)