2006年VOA标准英语-Scientists Say Better Diagnostics for Bird Flu

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
28 September 2006

Leading avian influenza¹ scientists from around the world say more research is needed to understand the H5N1 bird flu virus to be able to effectively diagnose and treat the disease. That's the conclusion of scientists attending a two-day World Health Organization (WHO) meeting to review what steps need to be taken to prevent the virus from becoming easily transmissible among humans.

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A rooster perches² on a cage at market in Medan, North Sumatera, Indonesia, Sept. 25, 2006  
  
The avian flu experts agree, better diagnostic tests must be developed to identify those people who are carrying the H5N1 virus, but do not show symptoms. They note the virus is not stable and keeps changing its form. 

The head of WHO's Animal and Human Influenza Program, Mike Perdue, says the same is true for anti-viral drugs.  He says hospital and clinical studies have discovered some resistance to the two primary anti-viral drugs used to treat human cases of the deadly H5N1 strain of bird flu. These are Tamiflu and Amantadine.

"So, there is an urgent need to look at other anti-viral avenues, either different ways of delivering current drugs, or new variations on the drugs that are available," said Perdue.

In most cases, Perdue says, Tamiflu continues to save lives, but he notes the drug must be used very early in the infection to be effective.

A man burns birdcages as a bird flu prevention measure in Indonesia   
  
Bird flu is taking a huge economic toll³. Some 230 million birds have been destroyed to prevent the disease from spreading among poultry⁴, and to limit human exposure. In the first 18 months of the pandemic, between 2003 and 2004, WHO reports, the global agriculture sector⁵ lost more than $10 billion.  Those most affected⁶ are small farmers, who have had their livelihoods⁷ wiped out.

Purdue says the virus has not been seen in migratory⁸ birds for many months, and it is not clear whether it will reappear this year.  He attributes this to heightened surveillance in countries where bird flu has surfaced.

"So, they have started looking closer at their poultry production practices relative to the migratory bird flight patterns," he added.  "We have also had more interest in the illegal trade of poultry and poultry products, which some people say is also a significant mechanism⁹ for transmitting the virus.  So, it is just this heightened awareness¹⁰ of the fact that the virus is being spread by unique vectors or transmission routes, I think, has increased the likelihood that they will keep it out of the poultry population."

For now, avian influenza is still a disease of animals.  Only people who have had close contact with poultry infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus have become ill and died. Scientists say if they can solve the problem in animals, they can solve it in humans.  To date, the World Health Organization reports 251 human cases of bird flu, among whom 147 have died.

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 perches   

栖息处( perch的名词复数 )； 栖枝； 高处； 鲈鱼

参考例句：

• Other protection can be obtained by providing wooden perches througout the orchards. 其它保护措施是可在种子园中到处设置木制的栖木。
• The birds were hopping about on their perches and twittering. 鸟儿在栖木上跳来跳去，吱吱地叫着。

3 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

4 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?

5 sector   

n.部门，部分；防御地段，防区；扇形

参考例句：

• The export sector will aid the economic recovery. 出口产业将促进经济复苏。
• The enemy have attacked the British sector.敌人已进攻英国防区。

6 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

7 livelihoods   

生计，谋生之道( livelihood的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。

8 migratory   

n.候鸟，迁移

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• This does not negate the idea of migratory aptitude.这并没有否定迁移能力这一概念。

9 mechanism   

n.机械装置；机构，结构

参考例句：

• The bones and muscles are parts of the mechanism of the body.骨骼和肌肉是人体的组成部件。
• The mechanism of the machine is very complicated.这台机器的结构是非常复杂的。

10 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。