Some Chinese and African artists in Beijing began raising funds over the weekend to help West Africa in prevention of the Ebola virus.

More than 10 calligraphers and painters participated in a charity sale of their works on Saturday in the hall of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. The sale was initiated by the Duyi Queennak Foundation and co-organized by the association.

Ada Yang, who is from Sierra Leone and is president of the Queennak Foundation, said preparations for the sale had taken more than two months. She said two of her friends in her hometown died of the virus.

"This epidemic is fatal and very terrible," she said. "We want to help people in these countries to protect themselves from the virus."

Some renowned Chinese painters, including Ada Yang's husband, landscape painting master Yang Yan, donated their works for auction. There were also other art works visitors to the exhibition could buy and sales will continue.

Feng Zuoku, vice-president of the CPAFFC, said Chinese have been very concerned about the epidemic of Ebola in Africa and want to help Africans fight against the virus.

All the money collected during the sale and from later sales will be donated to Nigeria, Liberia, Guinea and Sierra Leone.

Ebola is spread through the exchange of body fluids and has killed more than 1,300 people in West African countries this year. The World Health Organization on Friday said the magnitude of the Ebola outbreak, especially in Liberia and Sierra Leone, has been underestimated.