As of midnight Saturday, no epidemic or emergent public health incidents have been reported in areas affected by the deadly earthquake which struck southwest China's Sichuan Province on May 12, the Ministry of Health said on Sunday.

A total of 5,530 medical staff together with 550 ambulances were dispatched by the health ministry, and have reached all affected townships in the quake zone to offer medical treatment, according to the ministry.

The ministry also sent 646 doctors and assistants to quake areas for prevention of plague. A total of 350 tons of plague prevention goods are currently en route to the quake zone.

The 7.8-magnitude quake centered in Sichuan has claimed 28,881 lives by Saturday. The country's State Council, or the cabinet, estimated that total death toll could top 50,000.

(Xinhua News Agency May 18, 2008)