2006年VOA标准英语-Nigeria Facing Threat of Bird Flu Pandemic

By Gilbert Da Costa
Abuja
01 March 2006
 
The World Bank says Nigeria is still struggling with an outbreak of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu since the first confirmed case was reported weeks ago. The inability of the authorities to quickly stem the outbreak has raised renewed fears of a pandemic.

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Man tries to catch birds suspected of contracting bird flu virus inside Arabi farms in Kaduna, Nigeria   
  

A senior World Bank official, Simeon Ehui, says Nigeria has failed to contain the spread of the deadly bird flu virus and now faces the prospect¹ of an epidemic² with grave consequences.

"The worst is not over. To the contrary, if it is unchecked the worst is yet to come because currently we're dealing³ with birds, chickens, and so on and the biggest problem now is the economic impact on the people who own chickens, but imagine if the virus spreads to human beings and then it becomes a pandemic and that's the worst and that's what we want to avoid," he said. "In Asia, already some 90 people have died. But many years ago it [flu] had killed millions of people and we do not want that to happen because the health infrastructure⁴ in Africa in general is weak, so if we do not pay attention and if we don't contain the current outbreak, the problem for human being can be bad."

Nigeria confirmed the outbreak of the bird flu on February 8. The virus is believed to have spread widely before it was detected. The virus has since been found in neighboring Niger.

Tests carried out on 55 people with acute respiratory diseases in Nigeria turned out negative for the H5N1 subtype of influenza⁵. But health experts say they are worried about the situation in Nigeria, where several people, especially farm workers, have been exposed to the virus.

Ehui says the World Bank has offered to fund a vaccination⁶ program in Nigeria. "Doing vaccination can be good or bad. It is good if it can cover everybody, all the animals. But if does not cover everybody, it cannot be cost-effective," he noted⁷. "So the government has to look at that, with the partners ... FAO and so on, and make a decision on that. We, have made provision in our budget to fund vaccination if the government wants to go along that route."

International experts have warned that it could take as long as three years, to tackle the outbreak in Africa. But they point out the lengthy⁸ process may increase the risk of the virus transforming into a more deadly form.

1 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

2 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。

3 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。

4 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

5 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。

6 vaccination   

n.接种疫苗，种痘

参考例句：

• Vaccination is a preventive against smallpox.种痘是预防天花的方法。
• Doctors suggest getting a tetanus vaccination every ten years.医生建议每十年注射一次破伤风疫苗。

7 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。

8 lengthy   

adj.漫长的，冗长的

参考例句：

• We devoted a lengthy and full discussion to this topic.我们对这个题目进行了长时间的充分讨论。
• The professor wrote a lengthy book on Napoleon.教授写了一部有关拿破仑的巨著。