Ebola fears expected to impact participation at major China international trade fair

Organizers say concern about the spread of the Ebola virus is expected to impact attendance at China's largest international trade fair, which kicks off Wednesday.

Spokesman for the Canton Fair Liu Jianjun was quoted in Chinese newspapers as saying he expects to see a fall in the number of foreign buyers, especially those from African countries. About 500,000 buyers and exhibitors usually attend the biannual event in the southern city of Guangzhou, including about 15,000 from Africa.

While no restrictions have been placed on visitors from Ebola-hit countries, they will be closely monitored, Wednesday's China Daily newspaper quoted Liu as saying. Fever detection readers will be set up at fair entryways and emergency measures drawn up in the event of possible cases, Liu said.

China has no reported Ebola cases.