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Russian aircraft loaded with humanitarian aid arrives in Ebola-hit Guinea

The humanitarian aid, ordered by the Russian government, includes foodstuffs, in particular canned meat, fish and milk, and also sugar.

MOSCOW, February 4. /TASS/. A Russian Emergencies Ministry aircraft carrying more than 37 tons of humanitarian aid has arrived in Guinea, the epicenter of the Ebola outbreak, the ministry’s press service said on Wednesday.

The IL-76 aircraft departed to Guinea from Ramenskoye airfield outside Moscow on Tuesday. The humanitarian aid, ordered by the Russian government, includes foodstuffs, in particular canned meat, fish and milk, and also sugar.

Besides, the aircraft has delivered around 2 tons of medical appliances, consumables and chemicals needed to ensure the work of a special anti-epidemic brigade of Russia's public health watchdog, Rospotrebnadzor, in Guinea.

As part of Russia’s participation in the effort to fight against Ebola, a Russian mobile laboratory and a Rospotrebnadzor team were sent to Guinea in August 2014. They are currently working in Kindia, the country’s third largest city, and are expected to continue the effort until August.

The death toll from the Ebola outbreak has reached 8,921 and as many as 22,334 people have been infected, according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) figures.

These cases were reported from Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone. In line with statistics, the maximum number of Ebola-related deaths and cases has been registered in Liberia — 3,710 cumulative deaths and 8,668 cumulative cases. Liberia is followed by Sierra Leone (3,274 deaths and 10,707 cases) and Guinea (1,937 deaths and 2,959 cases).