VOA慢速英语2020 世卫组织称全球新冠肺炎实际感染人数可能远超确诊人数

A World Health Organization (WHO) official says its "best estimates" show that the new coronavirus may have infected about one in 10 people worldwide.

世卫组织一位官员称其“最确切估计”表明，新冠病毒可能已经感染了全球十分之一的人口。

Michael Ryan is a doctor and the head of emergencies at the United Nations' health agency. He was speaking on Monday at a special meeting of the agency's executive board dealing¹ with COVID-19. The group's 34 member countries provide much of the money used to pay for WHO operations.

迈克尔·瑞安是一名医生，也是世卫组织紧急状况负责人。他周一在世卫组织执行委员会应对新冠肺炎的一次特别会议上作了发言。该组织的34个成员国提供了世卫组织运作的大部分资金。

Dr. Ryan told the meeting the infection rates vary from cities to rural areas, and between different groups. And he said the new estimate means "the vast majority of the world remains² at risk."

瑞安医生在会议上表示，感染率因城市、农村地区以及不同人群而异。他还表示，这次新估算意味着“全球绝大多数地区仍然处于危险当中。”

"Our current best estimates tell us that about 10 percent of the global population may have been infected by this virus," he said.

他说：“我们目前的最确切估计告诉我们，全球约有10%的人口已经被这种病毒感染。”

Ryan added that the worldwide spread of COVID-19 would continue to develop. He said that tools exist to suppress the spread of the virus and added, "...many more lives can be protected."

瑞安还表示，新冠肺炎的全球传播将会继续发展。他说，存在抑制病毒传播的工具，并称“可以保护更多人的生命。”

Also attending the meeting was WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. He led a moment of silence to honor victims of COVID-19. He also expressed his support for the health workers who have worked to save lives.

世卫组织总干事谭塞德也出席了这次会议。他主持了默哀仪式以纪念新冠肺炎的受害者。他还对努力挽救生命的卫生工作者表达了支持。

Ryan noted³ that Southeast Asia faced a rise in coronavirus cases. He also said that Europe and the eastern Mediterranean⁴ area are seeing an increase in deaths. The situations in Africa and the Western Pacific were "rather more positive," he added.

瑞安指出，东南亚面临着新冠病毒病例的上升。他还表示，欧洲和地中海东部地区的死亡人数开始增加。他补充说，非洲和西太平洋地区的局势“更加积极。”

The new WHO estimate would mean that more than 760 million people have already been infected, based on the current world population. That number is far greater than the number of confirmed cases counted by both the WHO and Johns Hopkins University. Their official count is more than 35 million worldwide.

世卫组织新的估计意味着根据目前全球人口，已有超过7.6亿人被感染。这个数字远远高于世卫组织以及约翰·霍普金斯大学统计的确诊人数。他们的统计数字是全球超过3500万人感染。

Experts have long said that the number of confirmed cases is much smaller than the true number.

专家一直称确诊人数要远低于实际人数。

Dr. Margaret Harris, a WHO spokesperson, said the new number was based on the average of antibody studies done around the world.

世卫组织发言人玛格丽特·哈里斯博士表示，这一全新数值是基于全球抗体研究的平均值。

Harris said the estimated 90 percent of people remaining without infection means the virus has "opportunity" to spread more "if we don't take action to stop it." She noted the importance of contact-tracing and health officials closely following the movement and spread of cases.

哈里斯表示，估计仍然有90%的人口没有受到感染，这意味着“如果我们不采取行动阻止，”该病毒“有机会”进一步传播。她指出了接触者追踪以及 卫生官员密切追查确诊病例的活动记录和传播路径的重要性。

1 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

2 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

3 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

4 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。