VOA标准英语2009-WHO Concerned About Spread of Flu to Southern He

The World Health Organization says there is some concern the swine flu A-H1N1 virus may start moving from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern Hemisphere, where the regular winter flu season is approaching.
　
People, wearing face masks as a precaution against swine flu, walk after crossing from U.S. to Mexico at the San Ysidro crossing port in Tijuana, Mexico, 30 Apr 2009

WHO's Assistant Director-General Dr. Keiji Fukuda said most swine flu cases are still in North America [Mexico, the United States and Canada], but there have been some incidents of the virus going south, and some travel-related infections in Europe and Asia. The virus has spread to Colombia - the first confirmed case in South America.

Dr. Fukuda says health authorities are monitoring the situation closely.

"We have concerns about the infection traveling to the Southern hemisphere, because that part of the world will be heading into the winter months, and the winter months are when influenza¹ viruses usually thrive, and so you typically see epidemics² and outbreaks of influenza occur during those colder months," he said.

Meanwhile, Mexico's Health Secretary Jose Cordova says most economic activity in his country will resume Wednesday, and said the outbreak there is waning³.
　
Keiji Fukuda (file photo)

WHO's Assistant Director-General Fukuda stressed it is critical for countries everywhere to remain alert and keep monitoring the situation. He hailed the fact this level of surveillance is unprecedented⁴.

"At this point in history, this is the best surveillance we have ever had," he said.

During a Geneva-based news conference, Dr. Fukuda said there were just more than 1,000 confirmed cases worldwide in a total of 20 countries, with 26 deaths, but cautioned that the numbers are constantly changing.

He made clear that if the World Health Organization raises its alert level from phase five to phase six, it will not be a statement about the severity of the virus, but would mean there is clear evidence of community level transmission in another region of the world outside North America.

Fukuda also said there have been no further outbreaks of influenza in pigs. He said it had been reported there had been signs of the H1N1 virus in a herd⁵ of pigs in Alberta, Canada, but indicated he did not have any firm details. He again stressed that pork products do not pose any risks to people.

"The pigs are not the danger to people right now. It is really, the danger is the people transmitting the infection to other people," he said.

Despite this information, up to 20 countries worldwide have banned imports of pork and other meat.

U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon also issued a strong warning that over-reactions to the virus should be avoided, including unnecessary travel restrictions⁶ and the banning of certain foods. He pointed⁷ out the livelihoods⁸ and well-being⁹ of millions of people across the world are at stake.

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 epidemics   

n．流行病

参考例句：

• Reliance upon natural epidemics may be both time-consuming and misleading. 依靠天然的流行既浪费时间，又会引入歧途。
• The antibiotic epidemics usually start stop when the summer rainy season begins. 传染病通常会在夏天的雨季停止传播。

3 waning   

adj.（月亮）渐亏的，逐渐减弱或变小的n.月亏v.衰落( wane的现在分词 )；（月）亏；变小；变暗淡

参考例句：

• Her enthusiasm for the whole idea was waning rapidly. 她对整个想法的热情迅速冷淡了下来。
• The day is waning and the road is ending. 日暮途穷。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

4 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

5 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。

6 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

7 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

8 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。

9 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。