VOA标准英语2009-H1N1 Cases Declining In Hospitals Across US

CDC reports number of H1N1 cases down in parts of US

Elizabeth Lee | Washington, DC 24 November 2009

 
Flu experts say the cities that were hit hardest with the flu last spring are seeing fewer cases now. There are also a smaller number school closings.

"We do not know how long this wave will last. Whether there may be multiple waves. We know that flu season can last until May," says Dr. Anne Schuchat.

The swine flu pandemic has taken a turn in the United States. Doctors in several cities are now reporting fewer cases of the H1N1 virus, prompting some to believe the outbreak may have peaked. Still, the virus has killed nearly 7,000 people worldwide since April, and health officials say there could be another outbreak in the U.S.

At its peak, there were so many outbreaks of H1N1 flu, this children's hospital in Texas had to set up tents for its patients. Two months later, the tents are down and so are the number of people who are sick.

"At some points we were seeing as many as 70 percent of patients testing positive for the flu, and now it's down below 10 percent," Dr. Pat Crocker, Dell Children's Medical Center estimates.

Hospitals in many cities across the United States are seeing the same decline in the number of H1N1 cases.

Flu experts say the cities that were hit hardest with the flu last spring are seeing fewer cases now. There are also a smaller number school closings.

"I believe it's because of herd¹ immunity². The virus spread so widely in the U.S. to a point where 22 million people probably have come into contact with the virus,"  Dr. Pascal Imperato said.

Officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the virus is still widespread, and is behaving in a way they expect.

"So far, no change in the virus," Dr. Anne Schuchat said. "It hasn't become more virulent³ or changed genetically⁴.  We still think the vaccine⁵ is a good match with this virus that's circulating."

But scientists in Norway say they have found a mutated form of the H1N1 virus in three of their patients. Two died.  The mutation⁶ has caused a more severe form of the flu, but health officials don't expect the mutated form to spread.

CDC officials still say that anyone not infected with the H1N1 virus should get the vaccine. They say even though the number of flu cases are declining in U.S. a large number of people are still getting sick in some parts of the country.

"We do not know how long this wave will last, whether there may be multiple waves," Dr. Schuchat said. "We know that flu season can last until May."

And with the holiday season just the around the corner, doctors say there may be another outbreak of the H1N1 flu when people start to travel.

 

1 herd   

n.兽群，牧群；vt.使集中，把…赶在一起

参考例句：

• She drove the herd of cattle through the wilderness.她赶着牛群穿过荒野。
• He had no opinions of his own but simply follow the herd.他从无主见，只是人云亦云。

2 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。

3 virulent   

adj.有毒的，有恶意的，充满敌意的

参考例句：

• She is very virulent about her former employer.她对她过去的老板恨之入骨。
• I stood up for her despite the virulent criticism.尽管她遭到恶毒的批评，我还是维护她。

4 genetically   

adv.遗传上

参考例句：

• All the bees in the colony are genetically related. 同一群体的蜜蜂都有亲缘关系。
• Genetically modified foods have already arrived on American dinner tables. 经基因改造加工过的食物已端上了美国人的餐桌。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 基因与食物

5 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。

6 mutation   

n.变化，变异，转变

参考例句：

• People who have this mutation need less sleep than others.有这种突变的人需要的睡眠比其他人少。
• So far the discussion has centered entirely around mutation in the strict sense.到目前为止，严格来讲，讨论完全集中于围绕突变问题上。