VOA标准英语2009-US Officials Expect More Swine Flu Cases, Deaths

The number of U.S. cases of swine flu has risen to 3,000 - an increase of 400 from Monday's released figures. Three deaths have been reported. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says more cases and fatalities¹ are likely.

US outbreak described as 'mild'
　
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the swine flu outbreak in the United States appears to be mild. But, the CDC says the actual number of cases is likely to be much higher than what it has reported.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says health workers around the country are confirming cases more quickly, as they receive testing kits² from the CDC.

Virus could mutate

She told a U.S. Senate hearing Tuesday the government expects swine flu cases and deaths to rise and is worried the virus could mutate into something more dangerous.

"I have directed our operations center to put forward a plan on what we need to be doing over the course of the summer, across the federal government and with state and local school districts and others, to really think through what our national response is going to be if this flu comes back in a more virulent³ form in the fall," Napolitano said.

She says her department is seeking a five-percent increase in its budget for the 2010 fiscal⁴ year, in part to deal with unexpected public safety threats such as a swine flu.

Is effort to curb⁵ Mexico drug violence working?

Members of the Senate's Homeland Security Committee also questioned Napolitano about American and Mexican efforts to curb drug violence and trafficking along their border.

Mexico's government sent thousands more troops and police to the border town, Ciudad Juarez last month, sharply reducing drug-related killings⁶ there. But the calm did not last.

"They are now starting to see an uptick in homicides back in Juarez, which had been really on the severe downslide after they put the military in there," Napolitano said.

Napolitano says U.S. authorities are trying to help Mexico by stepping up inspections⁷ of suspicious looking-vehicles heading south to the border.

She says the Mexican government also is cracking down on illegal drug production by banning the import of ephedrine, a stimulant⁸ used to make methamphetamine.

"We are already seeing an impact on that, in terms of Mexican-produced meth that is there," Napolitano said. "Ironically, an issue we have to confront is ephedrine being smuggled⁹ from the U.S. into Mexico, manufactured and then smuggled back. So we are working the meth issue with local and state law enforcement from both directions in that regard."

Illegal immigration down

The homeland security secretary also told lawmakers that illegal immigration from Mexico into the United States has dropped because of the poor state of the U.S. economy.

"In this period where we do not have the job demand on this side, the economic incentive¹⁰ is not as great as it was. [So] it is a great time for us to keep on with our enforcement efforts and keep building that infrastructure¹¹ that we need," Napolitano said.

As part of that effort, Napolitano says authorities have started building a "virtual" fence along Mexico's border with the U.S. state, Arizona. The fence will use surveillance tools such as radar¹², cameras and sensors¹³ to detect people trying to cross the border illegally.

1 fatalities   

n.恶性事故( fatality的名词复数 )；死亡；致命性；命运

参考例句：

• Several people were injured, but there were no fatalities. 有几个人受伤，但没有人死亡。
• The accident resulted in fatalities. 那宗意外道致多人死亡。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 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。

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 fiscal   

adj.财政的，会计的，国库的，国库岁入的

参考例句：

• The increase of taxation is an important fiscal policy.增税是一项重要的财政政策。
• The government has two basic strategies of fiscal policy available.政府有两个可行的财政政策基本战略。

5 curb   

n.场外证券市场，场外交易；vt.制止，抑制

参考例句：

• I could not curb my anger.我按捺不住我的愤怒。
• You must curb your daughter when you are in church.你在教堂时必须管住你的女儿。

6 killings   

谋杀( killing的名词复数 )； 突然发大财，暴发

参考例句：

• His statement was seen as an allusion to the recent drug-related killings. 他的声明被视为暗指最近与毒品有关的多起凶杀案。
• The government issued a statement condemning the killings. 政府发表声明谴责这些凶杀事件。

7 inspections   

n.检查( inspection的名词复数 )；检验；视察；检阅

参考例句：

• Regular inspections are carried out at the prison. 经常有人来视察这座监狱。
• Government inspections ensure a high degree of uniformity in the standard of service. 政府检查确保了在服务标准方面的高度一致。 来自《简明英汉词典》

8 stimulant   

n.刺激物，兴奋剂

参考例句：

• It is used in medicine for its stimulant quality.由于它有兴奋剂的特性而被应用于医学。
• Musk is used for perfume and stimulant.麝香可以用作香料和兴奋剂。

9 smuggled   

水货

参考例句：

• The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• Those smuggled goods have been detained by the port office. 那些走私货物被港务局扣押了。 来自互联网

10 incentive   

n.刺激；动力；鼓励；诱因；动机

参考例句：

• Money is still a major incentive in most occupations.在许多职业中，钱仍是主要的鼓励因素。
• He hasn't much incentive to work hard.他没有努力工作的动机。

11 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

12 radar   

n.雷达，无线电探测器

参考例句：

• They are following the flight of an aircraft by radar.他们正在用雷达追踪一架飞机的飞行。
• Enemy ships were detected on the radar.敌舰的影像已显现在雷达上。

13 sensors   

n.传感器，灵敏元件( sensor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• There were more than 2000 sensors here. 这里装有两千多个灵敏元件。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Significant changes have been noted where sensors were exposed to trichloride. 当传感器暴露在三氯化物中时，有很大变化。 来自辞典例句