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China has sent three teams of experts to Ebola-affected West African countries to help fight the deadly virus.

It is the first time Beijing has offered overseas assistance in response to a public health emergency.

Li Qun, emergency response chief at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, said the move will help with China's own Ebola response.

"Our experts' communication with local frontline medics for Ebola control and treatment will help with our response to the virus at both clinical and future research sites," he said, adding that China has never had an Ebola outbreak or used the virus strain for research purposes.

The teams left on Sunday night and will travel to Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.

A statement issued by the National Health and Family Planning Commission on Sunday said each team comprises an epidemiologist and two specialists in disinfection and protection. Team members are from the China disease control center and other institutions.

Sun Hui, an epidemiologist on the Guinea mission, said the tasks include information and technical support for China’s embassy and consulates there on distribution and use of relief supplies, and training local Chinese on disease response.

On Thursday, China announced humanitarian aid supplies worth 30 million yuan ($4.87 million) for Ebola-hit countries to help contain the outbreak.

The aid was expected to arrive on Monday or Tuesday, Ministry of Commerce spokesman Sun Jiwen said.

Questions:

1. How many teams of experts is China sending to Ebola-affected West African countries?

2. When did the teams leave?

3. How much humanitarian aid and supplies is China sending to Africa?

Answers:

1. Three.

2. Sunday night.

3. 30 million yuan worth.

（中國日?qǐng)?bào)網(wǎng)英語點(diǎn)津 Helen 編輯）

About the broadcaster:

Anne Ruisi is an editor at China Daily online with more than 30 years of experience as a newspaper editor and reporter. She has worked at newspapers in the U.S., including The Birmingham News in Alabama and City Newspaper of Rochester, N.Y.