Nine Chinese disease control experts have arrived in West Africa to
help fight Ebola after departing on Sunday evening and Monday, Sun
Jiwen, spokesman of the Ministry of Commerce, said on Tuesday.
China announced on Sunday it would send three expert teams and medical
supplies to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to assist in the
prevention and control of the Ebola virus, with each medical team
composed of one epidemiologist and two specialists in disinfection and
protection.
Sun said emergency humanitarian aid supplies have also arrived in the
affected countries after leaving Shanghai on Sunday.
The government announced on Aug. 7 that China would provide relief
worth 30 million yuan (4.9 million U.S. dollars) to Liberia, Sierra
Leone and Guinea. It was the second round of Ebola relief from China
so far.
Ebola, which spreads through the mucus and other body fluids or
secretions such as stool, urine, saliva and semen of infected people,
is believed to be very difficult to control.
Four western African countries -- Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra
Leone -- have been hit by the Ebola epidemic. So far, 1,779 cases have
been reported, including 961 deaths, according to the World Health
Organization (WHO).
Though the epidemic is currently restricted to West Africa, the WHO
warned that the disease is a "public health emergency of international
concern" and called for a coordinated international response to
prevent the spread of the deadly virus.
No comments:
Post a Comment