South China's Guangdong province will build a new disease prevention and control center, according to a provincial public health official.

The new center, will cost the provincial government 506 million yuan (about US$60 million), and will cover an area of 55,000 square meters.

The government will spend another 48 million yuan (US$5.78 million) on advanced facilities for research and treatment.

The existing disease prevention and control center in the city of Guangzhou occupies an area of barely 20,000 square meters, far less than the minimum of 50,000 square meters required by the Ministry of Health.

The official said that the shortage of space will inevitably affect research and experiment.

According to the design, the new center will have six buildings with advanced facilities for physiochemical examination and research of toxicology and microorganism.

The new center, which currently has a staff of 300 people, is expected to recruit more workers and experts. It will also recruit consultants on epidemic research and laboratory experts from overseas, according to the official.

(Xinhua News Agency August 28, 2003)