Health commission orders border control to intensify checks of inbound travelers

The Chinese government announced on Thursday it will provide 30 million yuan ($4.86 million) in humanitarian aid to four Ebola-ravaged countries in West Africa to help contain the outbreak.

The Ebola virus has been blamed for at least 932 deaths in four western African countries - Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone - with 1,711 reported cases, according to The Associated Press.

China's National Health and Family Planning Commission said on Thursday that no Ebola cases have been reported in China. Song Shuli, the commission's spokeswoman, said a series of preventive measures have been taken to stop the virus from entering the country.

The commission said it is communicating with the World Health Organization to better monitor and anticipate the spread of the virus.

It has also ordered border control authorities to intensify their checks of inbound travelers, Song said at a news conference on Thursday.

She dismissed an online rumor that a person in Shanghai died of Ebola virus. She also said "the possibility of the virus coming to China remains slim right now" in response to news reports in late July of a Hong Kong woman who showed symptoms suggestive of the Ebola virus after a visit to Kenya. She later tested negative for the disease.

Local medical institutions must report any confirmed or suspected Ebola cases directly to the commission within two hours, said Song, who added that the public should learn more about the disease to protect themselves.

The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine said on Monday that it would step up inspections on inbound airlines from regions affected by the Ebola virus and increase sanitary measures on incoming vehicles and goods.

Imports of special goods and animal products would be halted, it said.

Xu Jianguo, a senior specialist with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said society, the government and individuals should play their own part to contain the outbreak.

The Ebola virus spreads from an infected person's body fluids or secretions such as stool, urine, saliva and semen.

shanjuan@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily USA 08/08/2014 page3)