VOA健康报道2024--Scientists Fear Bird Flu Pandemic Coming

Scientists Fear Bird Flu Pandemic Coming

Scientists studying the spread of bird flu in the United States say they worry about a lack of data in tracking the virus, called Type A H5N1.

In recent months, the disease has spread to 129 groups of cows across 12 states. Experts have identified the disease in other mammals, as well, from alpacas to house cats.

The scientists are concerned about rising cases among cows. They say the increase probably means the virus has been changing. They say such changes could make it easier for the virus to spread from animals to humans.

Three people in the U.S. have tested positive for H5N1 bird flu since late March after being in close contact with cows.

Scott Hensley is a professor of microbiology at the University of Pennsylvania. He said the threat of a pandemic is currently¹ low but could rise quickly.

Health officials say the earlier they know about cases of human infection, the sooner they can take steps to reduce its spread.

The U.S. government tests cows for the virus. However, those tests are currently limited to cows crossing state borders. Government health officials and pandemic flu experts told Reuters news agency there is very little testing of people who come into contact with sick cattle.

Human and animal health agencies sometimes differ in the ways they deal with the flu. Experts say these differences could make it harder to respond quickly to an outbreak.

Still, a U.S. Department of Agriculture spokesperson said the agency is working “around the clock” with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in a “whole-of-government response". The spokesperson added that research shows "America’s food supply remains² safe, sick cows generally recover after a few weeks, and the risk to human health remains low.”

Some pandemics, including COVID-19, arrive with little warning. In the last flu pandemic, caused by H1N1 in 2009, the virus had first spread among animals for several years, Hensley said. But he added that more tracking of the virus would have helped health officials prepare.

The CDC estimates that between about 150,000 and half a million people died worldwide during the 2009 pandemic.

The World Health Organization (WHO) says there is no evidence of H5N1 spreading from human to human. For that reason, the WHO says the risk to humans is currently low.

Wenqing Zhang is the head of the WHO’s Global Influenza³ Preparedness agency. She said health organizations have ways to launch large production of tests, treatments and vaccines⁵ if needed.

The Coalition⁶ for Epidemic⁷ Preparedness Innovations⁸ (CEPI) is a non-profit based in Oslo, Norway. The organization works to develop vaccines and other ways to fight against pandemics.

CEPI aims to create a collection of vaccines for viruses that could cause pandemics. This would help drugmakers start large production and deliver the medicine where necessary within 100 days of an outbreak.

Some countries are taking steps to protect people against H5N1. The U.S. and Europe are gathering¹⁰ “pre-pandemic” flu vaccine⁴ that could be used for high-risk groups, including farm or lab workers.

Zhang, of the WHO, said expanding vaccines to more people is complex. Makers⁹ of pandemic flu vaccines make seasonal¹¹ flu shots and cannot produce both at once, she said.

Most flu vaccines are made using virus grown in eggs. That means it could take up to six months to produce pandemic shots. However, mRNA vaccines can be produced more quickly. On July 2, the U.S. government gave $176 million to drug-maker Moderna to finish development and testing of their mRNA vaccine against H5N1.

Experts also say there is a need to balance quick action against reacting too strongly to virus threats.

Wendy Barcla is a virologist at Imperial¹² College London. She also advises the UK Health Security Agency on bird flu. She said health officials want to give warnings "without saying the world is about to end."

1 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。

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 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。

4 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。

5 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。

6 coalition   

n.结合体，同盟，结合，联合

参考例句：

• The several parties formed a coalition.这几个政党组成了政治联盟。
• Coalition forces take great care to avoid civilian casualties.联盟军队竭尽全力避免造成平民伤亡。

7 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。

8 innovations   

改革( innovation的名词复数 )； 新观念； 新事物； 新设施

参考例句：

• The engineer has many technical innovations to his credit. 这位工程师有许多项技术革新的成就。
• This year's copy contains no innovations over those in the past. 今年的版本没有不同于过去的新花样。

9 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

11 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

12 imperial   

adj.帝王的，至尊的；n.特等品

参考例句：

• They made an objection to the imperial system with resolution.他们坚决反对帝制。
• The Prince Imperial passed away last night.皇太子昨晚去世了。