2006年VOA标准英语-African Health Officials Prepare for New Malari

By Efam Dovi
Accra
06 December 2006

Officials are meeting in Ghana to discuss ways to get an early start on administering malaria¹ vaccines³ in Africa. The vaccine² is currently on trial in six African countries. Malaria is a major cause of death for children in sub-Sahara Africa. Efam Dovi has more on the story for VOA, from the Ghanaian capital, Accra.

 

A malaria patient in a Dakar hospital

The Accra meeting, one of several in Africa, involves officials of the World Health Organization, U.N. Childrens Fund, Ghanaian health authorities, as well as other development partners.

Participants are discussing measures to ensure the vaccines are administered as soon as approved.

 

Hundreds of Ghanaian children between five and 17 months are taking part in the Ghana trial, which started in September.

 

Dr. Ruth Owusu is a member of the research team supervising the Ghana trials. She says the vaccine looks promising⁴, but says it is still too early to tell if it will work.

 

"This study we are doing now is not looking at the efficacy, it is looking at the safety," she said. "But soon after this study, once we think its safe enough to be used, there will be a larger study looking at the efficacy. This will go on in about 10 countries. I think it looks promising, but its still early to give any definite statement that yes, this is a vaccine that will definitely work, but I think its promising."

 

There is normally a long time-lag between licensing⁵ a vaccine and when it is administered in Africa.

 

Two-day workshops are being held in several African countries to help national health authorities to evaluate issues that will aid in introducing the vaccine.

 

Dr. Owusu explains why it is important for countries to be prepared before a vaccine is licensed⁶.

 

"It requires logistics, it requires even soliciting⁷ for donor⁸ support because these vaccines cost a lot and the government alone cannot bear the cost," she said. "It requires putting systems in place, it may require upgrading the current the immunization system. If it has not been planned before the vaccine is ready to come out, then it may take another five to 10 years before the vaccine is given to children."

There are about 15 malaria vaccines in clinical trials, most in the early stages of being tested. Officials say the leading vaccine could be available as early as 2011.

This program's vaccine has been tested and proved successful in protecting a large group of adult volunteers and children in other countries.

Malaria thrives in hot temperatures that enable the parasite⁹ that causes the disease to mature more quickly in the bodies of the mosquitoes that carry it. Over the years, the parasite has become more resistant¹⁰ to known medications and new drugs have been tried to combat the disease.

1 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。

2 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。

3 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。

4 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。

5 licensing   

v.批准，许可，颁发执照( license的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• A large part of state regulation consists of occupational licensing. 大部分州的管理涉及行业的特许批准。 来自英汉非文学 - 行政法
• That licensing procedures for projects would move faster. 这样的工程批准程序一定会加快。 来自辞典例句

6 licensed   

adj.得到许可的v.许可，颁发执照(license的过去式和过去分词)

参考例句：

• The new drug has not yet been licensed in the US. 这种新药尚未在美国获得许可。
• Is that gun licensed? 那支枪有持枪执照吗？

7 soliciting   

v.恳求( solicit的现在分词 )；（指娼妇）拉客；索求；征求

参考例句：

• A prostitute was soliciting on the street. 一名妓女正在街上拉客。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• China Daily is soliciting subscriptions. 《中国日报》正在征求订户。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 donor   

n.捐献者；赠送人；(组织、器官等的)供体

参考例句：

• In these cases,the recipient usually takes care of the donor afterwards.在这类情况下，接受捐献者以后通常会照顾捐赠者。
• The Doctor transplanted the donor's heart to Mike's chest cavity.医生将捐赠者的心脏移植进麦克的胸腔。

9 parasite   

n.寄生虫；寄生菌；食客

参考例句：

• The lazy man was a parasite on his family.那懒汉是家里的寄生虫。
• I don't want to be a parasite.I must earn my own way in life.我不想做寄生虫，我要自己养活自己。

10 resistant   

adj.(to)抵抗的，有抵抗力的

参考例句：

• Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
• They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。