新埃博拉病例数下降

 　　UNITED NATIONS, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- There has been an overall decline in the number of new Ebola cases, especially in the three most affected¹ African countries, said a UN official on Ebola on Tuesday.

　　Briefing on the progress in the global Ebola response to a UN General Assembly meeting, Ismael Ould Cheikh Ahmed, new head of United Nations' Mission for Ebola Emergency Response (UNMEER) said that "the devastating² spread of the disease has slowed."

　　According to Ahmed, among the three most affected countries, Liberia has recorded the sharpest decline, from averages exceeding 300 cases per week in August and September to less than 10 cases per week today. In the past three weeks, the number of new cases in Sierra Leone and Guinea has been at its lowest since August and late July of last year respectively.

　　Number of new Ebola cases declines: UNMEER head

　　While the numbers of overall new cases has come down, the disease has spread across a larger geographic³ area, the UN official said, warning against complacency in the fight against Ebola.

　　Too many communities in Ebola-affected countries are still refusing to acknowledge the disease and are resisting response efforts, he said.

　　In this regard, Ahmed called on the international community to strengthen efforts in social mobilization and community ownership, and also adjust the global response to the evolving nature of the disease.

　　Also on Tuesday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon appealed to national stakeholders, community leaders, response actors and member states to stay engaged and sustain the global effort in fighting Ebola.

　　"The outbreak has taught us that there is no room for complacency," said Ban. "Resources continue to be required to adjust the response, monitor chains of transmission and end the outbreak."

1 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

2 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

3 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法