Everything from infectious disease screening and control to increased land and air traffic needed to be considered in the disaster management plan for the 2010 World Cup, the department of provincial and local government said on Wednesday.

The department's Freedom Radebe asked a disaster management indaba in Midrand, Johannesburg, what the implications would be of the large number of visitors arriving in the country for the event. He said contingency plans needed to be put in place.

The large number of visitors and fans to stadiums and fan parks would have implications for electricity, sanitation and water infrastructure as well as accommodation and safety and security.

"The clock is ticking. There are 701 days to kick off. Colleagues, are we ready?" he asked.

(Xinhua News Agency July 10,2008)