China's Ministry of Public Health said Monday that it has formed a team of experts for the prevention and treatment of influenza on the Chinese mainland.
  
The experts, who will serve for terms of three years, will provide technical guidance and training to local health agencies on the monitoring of flu epidemics and offer on-spot assistance.
  
They will also give suggestions to China's national program on the prevention influenza pandemics, which is currently being drafted, the health ministry said.
  
Starting this year, avian influenza, or bird flu, ravaged 16 provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities as well as several other countries in Asia. Human infection of H5N1 virus was also spot in Vietnam and Thailand, which aroused serious concerns from the international community.
  
The World Health Organization has repeatedly warned that a global flu pandemic is very likely to occur and suggested member nations to keep on high alert for it.  

(Xinhua News Agency October 26, 2004)