China's vice minister of health said on Friday the government should improve rural sanitation to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

Wang Longde said the waste in less than a third of all toilets in China's rural areas is properly treated, adding that the situation is grim.

Many people have been infected after eating fish raised in water contaminated by human excrement, he said.

"It is urgent for Chinese government to popularize hygienic practices among rural residents," Wang said.

Wang said the Chinese government has helped peasants renovate their toilets and build methane tanks.

"It's not a money problem so much as a lack of hygiene knowledge," said the vice minister.

"This year alone, China has invested 2.5 billion yuan (about US$325 million) building methane tanks," he said, adding the government provides a subsidy of 1,000 yuan to each needy family.

(Xinhua News Agency April 7, 2007)