WHO official hails China's assistance to combat Ebola in Africa

China's assistance has rejuvenated the fight against Ebola in West Africa, an official at the World Health Organization said on Wednesday.

"China has joined the global community to boost the fight against Ebola in West Africa. The country's support in terms of medical equipment, personnel and commodities is timely," said Custodia Mandlhate, the WHO representative for Kenya.

Three Chinese medical team, each composed of one epidemiologist and two specialists in disinfection and protection, arrived on Tuesday in Ebola hit Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone to help their fight against the deadly virus which has been declared an emergency by the UN healthy agency.

"China has in the past dealt with virulent infectious diseases like avian flu and severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Ebola hotspots can apply China's expertise to eradicate this epidemic," Mandlhate said.

Ebola affected countries in the region have also received humanitarian aid supplies from China, including medicine, protective gears and disinfectants.

"Besides providing essential medicine to treat Ebola symptoms, China can step in with technology to boost our diagnostic capacity, " said Mandlhate.

He praised Chinese medical teams that work in African countries helping in combating various killer diseases, adding "China's investment in health care infrastructure across Africa is commendable."

Ebola, which spreads through body fluids, has so far killed 1, 013 people in West Africa out of 1848 infections.