The World Health Organization (WHO) is rushing additional medical supplies to China, which will be able to treat 130,000 people, the UN agency said on Thursday.

WHO is also sending an expert team to collaborate with the Chinese government on rebuilding its health infrastructure following the devastating May 12 earthquake, the agency said in a statement.

Besides, the agency will provide equipment to ensure clean drinking water and proper sanitation, which is vital for controlling any outbreak and spread of communicable diseases such as diarrhea.

This includes 5,000 chlorine disinfection tablets, drinking- water treatment units and mobile toilets.

"WHO has already identified that the key health issue in the earthquake's aftermath is to prevent and control communicable disease outbreaks," said Dr Eric Laroche, assistant director- general for WHO's health action in crises.

"But the longer-term challenge is how to best rebuild its damaged health infrastructure," he said.

WHO has been providing the Chinese Ministry of Health and the Center for Disease Control with ongoing technical assistance and materials on health emergency management and preventing the spread of communicable diseases.

(Xinhua News Agency May 23, 2008)