2006年VOA标准英语- UN Experts Warn Bird Flu Could Devastate

By Luis Ramirez
Beijing
19 January 2006

U.N. experts are warning that Africa is a likely new location for the emergence¹ of bird flu, and they say the spread of the virus onto the African continent could have devastating² consequences unless governments move quickly to improve health and surveillance.

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The warning came this week from world health experts taking part in a conference co-hosted by China. The conference was called to raise money to fight the spread of the H5N1 strain of bird flu.

The virus, which first appeared in East Asia, has recently begun infecting birds and humans in Turkey. David Nabarro, the United Nations Coordinator³ for Avian Influenza⁴, said it is difficult to say where the H5N1 virus will appear next - but he said Africa is a likely location this spring, as wild birds begin their annual migration⁵.

"I can't say and nor can anybody else say where it's going to go next. We suspect almost certainly Africa, because of the pathways of the migrating birds," he said. "But let's make sure that we don't get overly predictive, and instead stress to every country in the world: Get prepared for the bird flu. Get prepared for the human flu. You will reduce suffering. You will reduce loss of lives, and you will reduce the economic consequences."

Officials with the U.N.'s Food and Agriculture Organization said countries in Africa deserve special attention.

One FAO official told delegates in Beijing this week that if the disease were to become rooted in the African countryside, the consequences for a continent already devastated⁶ by hunger and poverty could be "truly catastrophic."

Health experts called on governments around the world to boost veterinary services by providing political support, as well as technical assistance and funding. 

Markos Kyprianou, right, EU health commissioner⁸, poses for press photographers with James Adams, left, vice⁷ president of the World Bank, Du Qinglin, second from left, and Dr. David Nabarro, the U.N. coordinator on avian and human influenza  
  
The conference in Beijing this week raised nearly $2 billion in pledges - the largest of which came from the United States.

Bush administration officials say most of the funding will target endemic areas of Southeast Asia such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Thailand, too, has been hard-hit by the disease. However, officials said a significant amount would fund programs in Africa.

H5N1 bird flu has killed about 80 people since 2003 - most of them in East Asia. Four confirmed fatalities⁹ in Turkey raised international concerns that the disease is growing - at least in geographic¹⁰ terms.

Most, if not all, of the people infected have gotten the virus from animals. Scientists worry that the current strain might mutate to one that is easily passed from human to human, raising the prospects¹¹ of a global pandemic.

1 emergence   

n.浮现，显现，出现，（植物）突出体

参考例句：

• The last decade saw the emergence of a dynamic economy.最近10年见证了经济增长的姿态。
• Language emerges and develops with the emergence and development of society.语言是随着社会的产生而产生，随着社会的发展而发展的。

2 devastating   

adj.毁灭性的，令人震惊的，强有力的

参考例句：

• It is the most devastating storm in 20 years.这是20年来破坏性最大的风暴。
• Affairs do have a devastating effect on marriages.婚外情确实会对婚姻造成毁灭性的影响。

3 coordinator   

n.协调人

参考例句：

• The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, headed by the Emergency Relief Coordinator, coordinates all UN emergency relief. 联合国人道主义事务协调厅在紧急救济协调员领导下，负责协调联合国的所有紧急救济工作。
• How am I supposed to find the client-relations coordinator? 我怎么才能找到客户关系协调员的办公室？

4 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。

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 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

7 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

8 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

9 fatalities   

n.恶性事故( fatality的名词复数 )；死亡；致命性；命运

参考例句：

• Several people were injured, but there were no fatalities. 有几个人受伤，但没有人死亡。
• The accident resulted in fatalities. 那宗意外道致多人死亡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

11 prospects   

n.希望，前途(恒为复数)

参考例句：

• There is a mood of pessimism in the company about future job prospects. 公司中有一种对工作前景悲观的情绪。
• They are less sanguine about the company's long-term prospects. 他们对公司的远景不那么乐观。