新奇事件簿 寨卡病毒危及婴儿健康（在线收听）

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that the Zika virus outbreak in Latin America could turn into a global pandemic. Many scientists say the outbreak could be more serious than the Ebola virus. Ebola killed over 11,000 people in West Africa in 2014 and 2015. The WHO estimated that the Zika virus could infect four million people by the end of 2016. The virus has been advancing across South and Central America in the past year. Dr Margaret Chan, Director-General of the WHO, warned that Zika is "spreading explosively". She added that it has quickly gone from being a mild threat to being frightening. Warmer weather means the mosquito that carries the virus is also spreading worldwide.

世卫组织警告称，拉丁美洲爆发的寨卡疫情或将成为全球大规模流行病。多名科学家表示，寨卡疫情或超过埃博拉。2014-2015年，西非埃博拉致1.1万人死亡。据世卫组织据测，到2016年底，寨卡传染者或达400万。去年，该病毒开始向中南美洲国家蔓延。世卫组织总干事陈冯富珍警告称，寨卡病毒正在“爆炸性传播”。她还表示，警报级别从中度迅速上升为严重。因气候变暖，寨卡病毒蚊虫正向全球蔓延。

The Zika virus is linked to a large rise in birth defects in Brazil and surrounding countries. In particular, scientists say it causes a disease called microcephaly. This is where a baby is born with a smaller head than normal, and with brain damage. Health officials in Brazil reported that around 4,000 babies were born with microcephaly last year. This compares to fewer than 150 cases in 2014. The Colombian government has just reported that more than 2,100 pregnant women in Colombia are infected with the virus. There is no vaccine for Zika and it will be difficult to find one. A doctor said a vaccine would have to be tested on pregnant women, and that would be "a practical and ethical nightmare".

寨卡致巴西等周边国家婴儿畸形病例激增。科学家表示，寨卡会引起新生儿“小头症”。新生儿的大脑会小于常人，并伴随脑损伤。据巴西卫生组织报道，全国去年共发现约4000例“小头症”病例。较2014年减少150例。据哥伦比亚政府报道，2100多名妊娠期妇女感染寨卡病毒。目前尚无寨卡疫苗，研发也异常艰辛。某医生表示，疫苗将会在怀孕妇女身上进行试验，这将是一次关乎道德的痛苦经历。