VOA慢速英语2019 许多刚果人不相信埃博拉病毒是真的（在线收听）

Many in Congo Do Not Believe Ebola Virus Is Real

Health experts are concerned about Ebola Virus Disease spreading in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

卫生专家担心埃博拉病毒在刚果民主共和国东部蔓延。

Eastern Congo is currently facing the second-deadliest Ebola outbreak in history.

刚果东部目前正面临历史上第二致命的埃博拉疫情。

More than 600 people have already died from the disease since last August. Hundreds more are infected.

从去年8月以来，已经有600多人死于这种疾病，还有数百人受到感染。

But a recent study found that one out of four people questioned in eastern Congo last year do not believe the Ebola virus is real. Nearly half said they thought some people were making up the Ebola outbreak in order to gain money or power. Their beliefs are strengthened by the economic and political insecurity in the area.

但是最近一项研究发现，去年刚果东部有1/4接受调查者不相信真有埃博拉病毒。近一半人认为有人在编造埃博拉疫情以获取金钱或权力。他们的这种看法因为该地区经济和政治不安全而得到了强化。

The study was published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal. It was based on interviews done last September, about a month after the outbreak was first reported.

这项研究发表在《柳叶刀传染病》杂志上，它是基于去年9月份进行的采访，也就是大约在疫情首次报道的一个月之后。

Beliefs can help spread – or stop – the deadly virus

相关理念有助于传播或阻止致命病毒

Researchers say the study showed how people’s misguided ideas about Ebola were making it harder to fight the virus.

研究人员表示，这项研究展示了人们对埃博拉病毒的错误观念如何导致对抗这种病毒更为艰难。

Ebola is spread through body fluids, so stopping the virus depends on isolating those who are infected. They must be separated from the rest of the population.

埃博拉是通过体液传播，所以阻止病毒传播取决于隔离感染者，他们必须与其他人隔绝开。

But those who did not believe Ebola is real were far less likely to seek help at a treatment center. They were also less likely to agree to an Ebola vaccine.

但是不相信真有埃博拉病毒的那些人就不太可能去治疗中心寻求帮助，他们也不太可能同意接种埃博拉疫苗。

Eva Erlach is with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. The group has more than 800 trained volunteers working to tell people in eastern Congo how they can prevent the disease.

伊娃·埃拉赫（Eva Erlach）就职于红十字会和红新月国际联合会。该组织有800多名训练有素的志愿者，他们正在告知刚果东部的人们如何预防这种疾病。

Erlach called the findings “absolutely interesting,” even if the interviews were done more than six months ago. She said they showed the connection between trust and preventive measures.

埃拉赫称该研究结果“极其有趣”，即便采访是在六个多月前完成的。她说它们展示了信任和预防措施之间的联系。

Tariq Riebl of the International Rescue Committee is currently working in eastern Congo. He said the findings confirm what he and other workers are seeing. As the virus spreads, helping communities take steps to prevent the disease is almost as important as treatment, he said.

国际救援委员会的塔里克·瑞博尔（Tariq Riebl）目前就在刚果东部工作。他说，这一调查结果证实了他和其他员工所看到的一切。他说，随着病毒传播，帮助社区采取措施预防这种疾病同治疗同等重要。

Riebl added: “It doesn’t matter if you have all the treatment options available because no one is ever arriving to take advantage of that.”

瑞博尔还说：“你有全部治疗方案并不重要，因为没人来接受治疗。”

I’m Jonathan Evans.

Words in This Story

take advantage of – v. to use something, such as an opportunity, in a way that helps you; to make good use of something

interview – n. a meeting at which people talk to each other in order to ask questions and get information

isolating – v. putting or keeping someone or something in a place or situation that is separate from others

outbreak – n. a sudden start or increase of fighting or disease