MOSCOW, August 14 (RIA Novosti) - As the largest Ebola epidemic in history spreads in West Africa, China is continuing its assistance to the region by sending three teams of experts in addition to supplies to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, Xinhua news agency reported Thursday.
"This assistance is of great significance and is an embodiment of the traditional friendship between China and Guinea," Sun Hui, the leader of the Chinese medical team in Guinea, said.
"I hope that with China's help, Guinea can defeat the Ebola epidemic at an early date," Sun Hui was quoted as saying by the news agency.
The Chinese experts include epidemiologists and specialists in disease control and prevention who will share their expertise and train West African medical workers on personal protection, disinfection, and biological safety, according to Xinhua news agency.
China's previous experiences in controlling and preventing public health emergencies, such as its campaigns against the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in 2003 and the 2013 H7N9 bird flu virus, will help in Africa's current fight against Ebola.
In addition to medical workers, China sent a chartered plane from Shanghai to Guinea, Sierra Leone and Liberia on Monday with medical supplies worth $4.9 million. The cargo included medical protective clothes, disinfectants, thermo-detectors and medicines.
Dr. Jacob Mufunda, World Health Organization (WHO) Country Representative who has worked in Sierra Leone, said China's assistance would help ease the shortage of medical equipment in the country, adding that China's emergency aid is "timely and efficient."
Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf also praised China’s involvement in the crisis that has accounted for 1,069 death and 1,975 infections since March according to the latest WHO tally on August 11.
Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone have been hit by the Ebola epidemic, a hemorrhagic virus with a fatality rate up to 90 percent.
There is currently no proven treatment or vaccine for Ebola, though several companies are currently working on it.
Posted By: Yaiqab Saint
Thursday, August 14th 2014 at 12:07PM
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