2006年VOA标准英语-WHO Says Possible Bird Flu Pandemic Not Ex

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
23 January 2006

 
Lee Jong-Wook
  
The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Lee Jong-Wook, says the risk of an avian influenza¹ pandemic is real and not exaggerated. Dr. Lee told delegates attending a week-long conference that the threat must be taken seriously and action to prevent a pandemic from occurring must be intensified².

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WHO Director-General, Lee Jong-Wook, rebuffs suggestions that the World Health Organization is exaggerating the risk of a bird flu pandemic that could potentially kill millions of people around the world.

"Concern has been expressed that we are overplaying this threat. We are not. We can only reduce the devastating³ human and economic impact of a pandemic if we all take the threat seriously now and prepare thoroughly⁴. This is a global problem," he said.

The World Health Organization predicts between two and 7.4 million people could die from a bird flu pandemic.

The H5N1 bird flu virus has killed at least 80 people in six countries since late 2003. Until recently, all of these deaths occurred in Asian countries. But, recently, the disease was transmitted from infected birds to humans in Turkey. WHO reports more than 20 people in Turkey have been infected with the disease. Of these, four children have died.

Dr. Lee says the situation in Turkey is unique. He says the appearance of human cases of avian influenza in that country was unexpected. This is different from Asia where outbreaks of the H5N1 virus were detected in poultry⁵ well before the virus occurred in humans.

The WHO Chief says there was almost no prior warning of infection in poultry in the eastern part of Turkey.

"The Turkey experience demonstrates the dangers posed by avian influenza in birds and the vital importance of surveillance and effective early warning systems," said Dr. Lee. "It also reiterates⁶ the threat of a pandemic of influenza in humans. A pandemic could arise with little or no warning from the animal side."

Dr. Lee says the recent experience shows how fast both governments and the international community can move in a crisis. He notes within one day, samples from patients in Turkey were collected, shipped, and received in Britain. He says the results were available within 24 hours.

The World Health Organization reports that human cases seem to be going down in Turkey following a mass cull⁷ of poultry and a public education campaign.

The World Health Organization says experts will help several neighboring countries at risk of getting bird flu to assess the situation. They include Syria, Iran, Iraq, Ukraine, Georgia, and Azerbaijan.

1 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。

2 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 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。

4 thoroughly   

adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地

参考例句：

• The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
• The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。

5 poultry   

n.家禽，禽肉

参考例句：

• There is not much poultry in the shops. 商店里禽肉不太多。
• What do you feed the poultry on? 你们用什么饲料喂养家禽?

6 reiterates   

反复地说，重申( reiterate的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• The Chinese government reiterates that the question of Taiwan is China's internal affair. 中国政府重申，台湾问题是中国的内政。 来自汉英非文学 - 汉英文件
• Wang Jianzhou reiterates a fact and a viewpoint in Davos. 王建宙在达沃斯重申一个事实和一个观点。

7 cull   

v.拣选；剔除；n.拣出的东西；剔除

参考例句：

• It is usually good practice to cull the poorest prior to field planting.通常在实践上的好方法是在出圃栽植前挑出最弱的苗木。
• Laura was passing around photographs she'd culled from the albums at home.劳拉正在分发她从家里相册中挑选出的相片。