VOA标准英语2009-Number of Swine Flu Cases Approaches 1,500 World

The World Health Organization said Tuesday that the number of confirmed swine influenza¹ A-H1N1 cases worldwide is close to 1,500, marking an increase of more than 400 infections since the day before. Thirty people around the world have died from the disease. In the United States, health officials are no longer recommending that schools close because of swine flu.
　
WHO Assistant Director-General Keiji Fukuda (file photo)

At a global news conference coming out of Geneva, the World Health Organization's Assistant Director-General for Health Security and Environment, Keiji Fukuda, said the organization held a virtual science meeting with investigators² from several countries who have examined people with the virus, sharing clinical information with doctors worldwide.

Dr. Fukuda said the investigators have confirmed that this particular virus continues to infect mainly young people. "When investigators are looking at the average age of people getting infected, you know, this is often in the age range of people around the 20s, mid-20s - a little above, a little below," he said.

He said experts are not sure why this is the case. It might be because many of those infected are world travelers - a demographic largely composed of young people. Dr. Fukuda said there might be alternative explanations. "Because there may be something about older people, which is preventing them from being infected," he said.

But Dr. Fukuda stressed this is speculation³, and that more study is needed.

In the United States, health officials are no longer recommending that schools close because of swine flu.

The Acting⁴ Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Richard Besser, said the virus has turned out to be milder in the United States than originally feared. "When you get to situations that are approaching that of seasonal⁵ flu, then the downsides of school closure start to outweigh⁶ the benefits that you might get in your community," he said.

Last week, U.S health officials advised schools to shut down for about two weeks, if there were suspected cases of swine flu. Hundreds of schools around the United States have closed temporarily because of the virus. There are more than 400 confirmed swine flu cases in the United States, with officials saying the number likely will increase significantly as more lab-test kits⁷ are distributed across the country.

There was encouraging news from Mexico, the epicenter of the swine flu virus. Mexican President Felipe Calderon said the outbreak is waning⁸, and that businesses should reopen soon. Universities and high schools are scheduled to resume classes on Thursday, and younger children are set to return to school in Mexico next week

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 investigators   

n.调查者，审查者( investigator的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• This memo could be the smoking gun that investigators have been looking for. 这份备忘录可能是调查人员一直在寻找的证据。
• The team consisted of six investigators and two secretaries. 这个团队由六个调查人员和两个秘书组成。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

4 acting   

n.演戏，行为，假装；adj.代理的，临时的，演出用的

参考例句：

• Ignore her,she's just acting.别理她，她只是假装的。
• During the seventies,her acting career was in eclipse.在七十年代，她的表演生涯黯然失色。

5 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。

6 outweigh   

vt.比...更重，...更重要

参考例句：

• The merits of your plan outweigh the defects.你制定的计划其优点胜过缺点。
• One's merits outweigh one's short-comings.功大于过。

7 kits   

衣物和装备( kit的名词复数 )； 成套用品； 配套元件

参考例句：

• Keep your kits closed and locked when not in use. 不用的话把你的装备都锁好放好。
• Gifts Articles, Toy and Games, Wooden Toys, Puzzles, Craft Kits. 采购产品礼品，玩具和游戏，木制的玩具，智力玩具，手艺装备。

8 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》