voa标准英语2008-ICRC Disinfects Houses to Counter Cholera in Zim

The International Committee of the Red Cross said it has begun disinfecting homes in Zimbabwe's capital in an effort to battle the cholera¹ epidemic². Red Cross officials said the number of cases is soaring and more needs to be done to halt the spread of the disease.
　

Woman suspected to be suffering from cholera, is transported in wheelbarrow to Harare clinic for treatment

The United Nations reported there now are more than 20,000 cases of cholera and more than 1,100 deaths from the disease in Zimbabwe. The largest number of cases have been in the capital, Harare.

That is one of the principal reasons the International Committee of the Red Cross is mounting its disinfecting campaign there.

Red Cross Spokeswoman, Anna Schaaf, said the Red Cross has been providing assistance to cholera victims since the outbreak of the disease in August. But, she said, it has decided³ to broaden its response to prevent more people from becoming infected.

"We are basically joining forces now with health workers from Beatrice hospital and Budiriro Polyclinic in Harare to go to the homes of those who are patients in those clinics and disinfect the homes and talk to the communities in the suburbs of Harare in order to explain to them how they can avoid getting infected. So, we are spraying the homes and basically trying to break the transmission cycle of the cholera bacteria," she said.

Schaaf said toilets, blankets and clothing are being sprayed with a chlorine-based disinfectant.
　

Cholera patients wait for treatment at Budiriro Polyclinic in Harare, (file photo)

Zimbabwe's crumbling⁴ health care system has faced difficulty dealing⁵ with the crisis, which President Robert Mugabe's government has blamed on the West. Earlier this month, the president denied there was a cholera outbreak, but officials have since said that he was being sarcastic⁶.

In addition to disinfecting the homes, she said Red Cross staff and city health workers are advising the families of patients and neighborhood residents on how to avoid catching⁷ the disease. She said aid workers also take people who have contracted cholera to treatment centers.

In the coming days, she said aid workers will distribute water-purification tablets, buckets and soap to promote sanitation⁸ in affected⁹ communities. The ICRC also is providing protective clothing, as well as other supplies and transportation for people working in this campaign.

Cholera can spread from contaminated water and bad sanitation. This week, the Red Cross donated pumps, water-testing equipment and spare parts to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority.

The main water-treatment plant serves Harare and the surrounding area. The Red Cross said the equipment will improve the plant's efficiency.

1 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

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 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

4 crumbling   

adj.摇摇欲坠的

参考例句：

• an old house with crumbling plaster and a leaking roof 一所灰泥剥落、屋顶漏水的老房子
• The boat was tied up alongside a crumbling limestone jetty. 这条船停泊在一个摇摇欲坠的石灰岩码头边。

5 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。

6 sarcastic   

adj.讥讽的，讽刺的，嘲弄的

参考例句：

• I squashed him with a sarcastic remark.我说了一句讽刺的话把他给镇住了。
• She poked fun at people's shortcomings with sarcastic remarks.她冷嘲热讽地拿别人的缺点开玩笑。

7 catching   

adj.易传染的，有魅力的，迷人的，接住

参考例句：

• There are those who think eczema is catching.有人就是认为湿疹会传染。
• Enthusiasm is very catching.热情非常富有感染力。

8 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

9 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。