2007年VOA标准英语-Deadly Fish Virus Spreads in New York State

By Victoria Cavaliere
Washington
13 June 2007

A deadly, fast-spreading virus is affecting freshwater fish in several lakes in New York state. In the past, the fish virus had a catastrophic impact on fish populations in Europe, Japan, and the U.S. Pacific northwest. Victoria Cavaliere reports from VOA's New York bureau that state officials are examining the environmental and economic impact of the virus.

Hemorrhagic septicemia virus, or VHS, causes internal bleeding in affected¹ fish but poses no danger to humans. The disease spreads rapidly among fish by direct contact. There are four strains of the virus: three found in Europe and one in North America.

VHS has long been a problem among commercially raised rainbow trout² in Europe. The U.S. Geological Survey says millions of trout have died in the past decade, costing Europe's fishing industry about 40-million dollars a year.

Outbreaks have also affected salmon³ and herring in Japan and other parts of the Pacific, including the U.S. northwest.

Doug Stang is chief of New York State's Bureau of Fisheries. He explains why VHS is spreading widely and rapidly. "One of the troubling things with regard to VHS is that there are many fish species and fish families that VHS impacts. VHS has been found to affect worldwide 37 different species. We don't think that there are any species or families that are not susceptible⁴ to VHS," he said.

In 2005, scientists were alarmed to find that VHS had moved from its normal marine⁵ habitat into the fresh water fish populations of the U.S. Great Lake regions.

Last year, a mutated strain of the virus killed millions of fish in four of the five so-called Great Lakes, located on or near the U.S. -- Canadian border. The Great Lakes are the largest group of fresh water lakes on Earth. This year, the virus has also been detected in the Finger Lakes region, a popular tourist destination in New York state.

Scientists have discovered the fish virus in at least 19 of the 150 fish species in New York lakes and rivers. It has devastated⁶ six species. Stang says containing the disease means minimizing the movement of live fish and restricting fishermen (anglers), and that takes time and money.

"There are going to be impacts on anglers, there's also some impacts on the aquaculture industry in New York and throughout the Midwest. People are not going to be able to do what they've done for years and years and years," he said.

Stang says there is no end in sight to the new restrictions⁷ on angling and sport fishing, an estimated one-point-two billion dollar industry in New York state. State and federal laws also require new surveillance and testing. In the Great Lakes region, facilities that produce fish and eggs must now screen their catch for VHS and certify⁸ that it is not present. Anglers say all this adds to the cost of selling and producing fish and eggs.

There is some good news. Stang says over time, fish build up a resistance to VHS, and eventually the virus may run its course.

1 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。

2 trout   

n.鳟鱼；鲑鱼(属)

参考例句：

• Thousands of young salmon and trout have been killed by the pollution.成千上万的鲑鱼和鳟鱼的鱼苗因污染而死亡。
• We hooked a trout and had it for breakfast.我们钓了一条鳟鱼，早饭时吃了。

3 salmon   

n.鲑，大马哈鱼，橙红色的

参考例句：

• We saw a salmon jumping in the waterfall there.我们看见一条大马哈鱼在那边瀑布中跳跃。
• Do you have any fresh salmon in at the moment?现在有新鲜大马哈鱼卖吗？

4 susceptible   

adj.过敏的，敏感的；易动感情的，易受感动的

参考例句：

• Children are more susceptible than adults.孩子比成人易受感动。
• We are all susceptible to advertising.我们都易受广告的影响。

5 marine   

adj.海的；海生的；航海的；海事的；n.水兵

参考例句：

• Marine creatures are those which live in the sea. 海洋生物是生存在海里的生物。
• When the war broke out,he volunteered for the Marine Corps.战争爆发时，他自愿参加了海军陆战队。

6 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

7 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

8 certify   

vt.证明，证实；发证书(或执照)给

参考例句：

• I can certify to his good character.我可以证明他品德好。
• This swimming certificate is to certify that I can swim one hundred meters.这张游泳证是用以证明我可以游100米远。