新奇事件簿 警惕新型病毒X

Scientists from the World Health Organization (WHO) say the world is possibly at risk from a deadly disease. However, they do not know its name or what it does and looks like. They have called it 'Disease X'. It could be caused by a virus or another micro-organism that scientists don't yet know about. The WHO said Disease X could go unnoticed until it is too late and it is quickly spreading around the world. The WHO is taking the threat of Disease X seriously. It is putting a lot of money into research and is preparing a plan for a sudden outbreak. It said: "Disease X represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic¹ could be caused by a virus currently unknown to cause human disease."

来自世界卫生组织（WHO）的科学家表示世界或受一种致命疾病威胁。但他们还不知道这种病毒的名字或形状。他们称其为‘X疾病’。该疾病由一种病毒或其他微生物引起，科学家们对此还知之甚少。WHO表示X疾病不易察觉，直到为时已晚，而且会迅速传播至全世界。WHO也在严肃对待这种X疾病。他们投入了大量资金进行研究并准备为该疾病的突然爆发制定计划。WHO说道：“X疾病代表着由未知病毒导致的全球性传染疾病引发人类疾病的认知。

The scientists said that Disease X could come from many different sources. It could come from existing diseases changing and becoming strong enough to resist our vaccines²; it could come from terrorism and bio-weapons; it could also come from scientists using DNA³-changing technology to make entirely⁴ new viruses. The biggest threat could come from animals. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said: "Scientists estimate that more than 6 out of every 10 known infectious diseases in people are spread from animals." These include Ebola, avian flu and mad cow disease. Everyone living closer together in cities and increasing international travel and tourism will make it easier for diseases to spread.

科学家表示X疾病来源可能有很多种。它可能来自某些疾病，这些疾病通过变化变得足够强大能抵抗人类疫苗；来自恐怖活动和生物武器；也可能来自科学家利用DNA改变技术所制造出的全新病毒。最大的威胁可能来自动物。美国疾病控制和预防中心表示：“科学家们评估人类中超过6成的已知传染疾病都来自于动物。”其中包括埃博拉病毒、禽流感以及疯牛病。城市人群生活空间紧凑以及全球旅游和旅游业的增长使疾病传播更为容易。

1 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

2 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

3 DNA   

(缩)deoxyribonucleic acid 脱氧核糖核酸

参考例句：

• DNA is stored in the nucleus of a cell.脱氧核糖核酸储存于细胞的细胞核里。
• Gene mutations are alterations in the DNA code.基因突变是指DNA密码的改变。

4 entirely   

ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地

参考例句：

• The fire was entirely caused by their neglect of duty. 那场火灾完全是由于他们失职而引起的。
• His life was entirely given up to the educational work. 他的一生统统献给了教育工作。