VOA慢速英语2019 下一次重大流行病或在短短36小时内波及全球

Health Experts Warn Disease Could Kill Millions in 36 Hours

Health experts are warning the world to prepare for a major pandemic. But the experts say they just do not know when it will strike.

卫生领域的多位专家警示全球要为重大流行病做好准备。不过，这些专家也表示，他们真地无法确定重大流行病何时来袭。

A special health monitoring group gave the warning to world leaders last week at the United Nations General Assembly.

上周，在联合国大会上，某特别健康监控组织警示了世界各国领导人。 

The group said the next pandemic could move around the world in as little as 36 hours. It said the disease could kill up to 80 million people and cause serious economic losses.

该组织表示，下一次流行病可在短短36小时的时间里蔓延全球。该组织还表示，这种流行病会导致多达8000万人死亡，还会导致严重的经济损失。

The group is called the Global Preparedness Monitoring Board. It operates independently of the World Health Organization and the World Bank. The board was set up last year to prepare a yearly report on the possibility of a pandemic. The first report was frightening.

该组织名为全球防范监控理事会。该组织独立于世界卫生组织（WHO）和世界银行而运作。该组织是去年创立的，创立目的是为流行病来袭的可能性做年度的报告。第一次报告内容让人不寒而栗。

The group notes improvements in medicine over the years. But it adds that politics and social issues keep people in both rich and poor countries from much needed medical care. And it says this threatens the whole world.

该组织指出了近年来医学方面的进步。但该组织也补充表示，政治问题和社会问题让贫穷国家和富裕国家的许多人无法获得他们需要的医疗护理。该组织还指出，这样的情况会威胁到全世界的安危。

The report praises modern medicine. Years ago, individuals found to have the disease AIDS were guaranteed a horrible death, but now treatment has changed that. Research on an AIDS vaccine¹ is promising².

报告还赞扬了现代医学。多年前，任何人一旦患上艾滋病就必死无疑，但现在，医学治疗改变了这种情况。关于艾滋病疫苗的研究颇有前景。

There is even talk of possibly ending malaria³. Currently⁴, the disease kills 500,000 people each year, most of them children.

报告甚至还谈及可能终结疟疾。目前，疟疾这种疾病每年会导致50万人死亡，其中大多数人都是儿童。

The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board also said conflict between nations and forced migration⁵ both increase the likelihood⁶ of diseases spreading. It urged countries to establish emergency preparedness from the local level on up, to build trust and to work to improve the way medical experts react to serious health threats.

该组织还表示，各国之间的冲突和强迫迁移都会加大疾病传播的可能性。该组织敦促各国建立起应急防范机制，从地方层面层层向上落实，要建立起信任，要一起努力以提高医学专家响应严重健康威胁的方式。

That would help ensure the health of the world’s 7.7 billion people.

这样做能助力确保全球77亿人的健康。 

1 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

2 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

3 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

4 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

5 migration   

n.迁移，移居，（鸟类等的）迁徙

参考例句：

• Swallows begin their migration south in autumn.燕子在秋季开始向南方迁移。
• He described the vernal migration of birds in detail.他详细地描述了鸟的春季移居。

6 likelihood   

n.可能，可能性

参考例句：

• We must try our best to reduce the likelihood of war.我们必须尽最大努力减少战争的可能性。
• I don't think there is any likelihood of his agreeing to it.我认为不会有他同意那件事情的可能。