2007年VOA标准英语-Drug Manufacturer Says Increased Bird Flu Vacci

By Martin Secrest
Washington, D.C.
18 April 2007
 

There may have been advances in the development of a vaccine¹ to protect people against the H5N1 avian influenza² virus, or bird flu.  Researchers say it could be possible to substantially increase global vaccine supply in advance of a potential bird flu pandemic.  Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has been testing its ability to respond to an outbreak of the disease.   Voice of America's Martin Secrest has more:

In April, the World Health Organization staged the first simulated drill to rapidly contain the early signs of a bird flu outbreak in people.  The scenario³ was a mock emergency in Cambodia.   In the imaginary outbreak, medicines and supplies were sent from Singapore to Phnom Penh, after five cases of bird flu were confirmed in Cambodia.  The WHO says the drill went well.

"This is more reaffirming, or validating⁴, our normal procedures, but at the same time, preparing for the worst situation,” said Paul Cox of WHO.

Relenza is undergoing worldwide clinical trials as a vacccine against an avian influenza pandemic

The anti-viral drug Tamiflu is the current preferred treatment for bird flu, but drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline is reporting new clinical data for their existing vaccine, called Relenza.  The drugmaker says that low doses of its vaccine were shown to induce substantial levels of immunity⁵, suggesting it may be possible to substantially increase the global bird flu vaccine supply.

Barbara Howe, the Director of Vaccine Research at GlaxoSmithKline, explains. "The current capacity of influenza vaccine manufacture, for the whole world, is about 350 million doses, and we know that there are 6 billion people in the world.  We have the ability to stretch the capacity and protect many more people."

Health experts fear that the H5N1 virus could mutate into a strain that easily infects humans.  The consequences of that could be dire⁶ -- the World Bank estimates that a severe avian flu pandemic could cost the global economy up to two trillion dollars.

1 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。

2 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。

3 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

4 validating   

v.证实( validate的现在分词 )；确证；使生效；使有法律效力

参考例句：

• His politics at home were validating his efforts in the hemisphere. 他的国内政策也有效地支持了他对本半球所做的努力。 来自辞典例句
• A number of different experimental approaches have aided in validating the concept. 许多不同的实验方法，有助于确证这种概念。 来自辞典例句

5 immunity   

n.优惠；免除；豁免，豁免权

参考例句：

• The law gives public schools immunity from taxation.法律免除公立学校的纳税义务。
• He claims diplomatic immunity to avoid being arrested.他要求外交豁免以便避免被捕。

6 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。