Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has set up a military brigade for public health emergency response, the first of its kind in the country, the People's Daily reported on Sunday.

The brigade, which has been approved by the Communist Party of China Central Military Commission, is to deal with military public health emergencies and quickly response, coordinate, analyze incidents of the kind and provide early-warning.

Attached to the PLA's disease control center, the brigade is also in charge of the country's major epidemic prevention event, emergency aid for large disasters home and abroad, the related personnel training, regulation drawing and research.

(Xinhua News Agency October 16, 2006)