'This tragedy has taught us many lessons'

China, like many countries, has answered strongly the calls from the World Health Organization and the UN to support response efforts to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, according to Bernhard Schwartlander, WHO representative in China.

So far, China has contributed 750 million yuan ($120 million) to the global fight against the virus, and has deployed about 800 specialists to affected countries.

"We are very grateful that China heeded this call, and its contribution to the response has been particularly valuable," Schwartlander said.

China has considerable experience after responding to viruses such as SARS, H1N1, H7N9 and other infectious diseases in recent years, he said. The country's expertise in surveillance, lab capacity, detection and control will be vital in the fight to contain Ebola, and that sentiment can be applied to managing future outbreaks of infectious diseases around the world, he said.

More than 22,850 cases of Ebola and 9,160 deaths have been reported since the outbreak began a year ago.

Schwartlander stressed the need to guard against complacency, saying the target of zero new cases in the affected countries has yet to be achieved.

"Sustained efforts are required to prevent an upsurge in new cases following a high-risk case, such as a single unsafe burial or a violent act of community resistance," he said.

"China, thereafter, should continue to provide strong financial support and deploy significant numbers of health and medical staff and equipment to the affected countries until the job is done," Schwartlander said.

"China can also contribute in the longer term to help affected countries build strong health systems," he said.

He pointed out that China's response on the ground will also benefit the country in the future because the medical teams working in West Africa are learning lessons and gaining valuable experience in two areas: the detection, treatment and control of infectious diseases that are never, or rarely, seen in China; and the development of skills and capacities in the control of infectious diseases in a variety of locations with different social and cultural settings that affect the spread of disease.

To some extent, Ebola is a tragedy that has taught the world, including WHO, many lessons, he said.

The Ebola outbreak points to the need for urgent change in three main areas: rebuilding and strengthening national and international emergency preparedness and response; addressing the way new medical products are brought to market; and improving the way the global community, including WHO, operates during emergencies, he said.