VOA标准英语2009-WHO Expected to Declare Swine Flu Pandemic

The World Health Organization is expected to declare the H1N1 Swine Flu a pandemic, following an emergency meeting of health officials from around the world. This will be the first declaration of a global flu pandemic in more than 40 years. WHO estimates nearly 28,000 cases, including 141 deaths have been reported in 74 countries.
　
Logo of the World Health Organization is seen at WHO headquarters in Geneva, 11 Jun 2009

The World Health Organization says there has been sustained community transmission in countries outside of North America, and this means the definition of a pandemic has been met.

But the World Health Organization is quick to stress a pandemic has to do with the geographic¹ spread of the disease and not with its severity.

Since the H1N1 virus was first detected in Mexico and the United States in April, it has spread to 74 countries. The jump in the number of cases has been especially dramatic in Australia, where there has been a four-fold increase in a week to more than 1,200 cases.

Several countries are taking drastic action in an effort to prevent the H1N1 virus from taking hold. For example, Hong Kong has decided² to close its schools after confirming the first cluster of cases.
　
A masked child plays with classmates at a kindergarten situated³ in a residential⁴ estate in Hong Kong, 11 June 2009

Hong Kong Chief Executive Donald Tsang says the action was prompted after confirmation⁵ that 12 students in a local school, St. Paul, were infected. He says the source of the infection is unknown so that indicates all cases are indigenous⁶.

"All kindergartens, primary schools, childcare centers and special schools will suspend classes for 14 days from tomorrow. The education bureau will inform parents through the schools. The bureau and the department of health will monitor developments closely every day," he said.

The World Health Organization has held off declaring a pandemic because it feared this could trigger panic around the world. And, indeed panic has gripped several countries.

For example, Argentina reports emergency health services collapsed⁷ this week because of the flood of people who swarmed⁸ into hospitals fearing they had swine flu. Last month, a group of Argentineans stoned a bus of tourists from Chile because they thought one of the passengers had the virus.

By raising its international alert level from phase five to phase six, the World Health Organization will be signaling that a pandemic is under way.

WHO officials are eager to calm fears. They say that raising the level to phase six does not mean the situation is worsening. They note the virus is very mild and has not killed many people. Since it has not mutated, the World Health Organization says it is not becoming more deadly.

The World Health Organization says a pandemic announcement is important because it will trigger drug makers⁹ to speed up the production of a swine flu vaccine¹⁰, and will likely cause governments to spend more money to contain the virus.

1 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

2 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。

3 situated   

adj.坐落在...的，处于某种境地的

参考例句：

• The village is situated at the margin of a forest.村子位于森林的边缘。
• She is awkwardly situated.她的处境困难。

4 residential   

adj.提供住宿的；居住的；住宅的

参考例句：

• The mayor inspected the residential section of the city.市长视察了该市的住宅区。
• The residential blocks were integrated with the rest of the college.住宿区与学院其他部分结合在了一起。

5 confirmation   

n.证实，确认，批准

参考例句：

• We are waiting for confirmation of the news.我们正在等待证实那个消息。
• We need confirmation in writing before we can send your order out.给你们发送订购的货物之前，我们需要书面确认。

6 indigenous   

adj.土产的，土生土长的，本地的

参考例句：

• Each country has its own indigenous cultural tradition.每个国家都有自己本土的文化传统。
• Indians were the indigenous inhabitants of America.印第安人是美洲的土著居民。

7 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

8 swarmed   

密集( swarm的过去式和过去分词 )； 云集； 成群地移动； 蜜蜂或其他飞行昆虫成群地飞来飞去

参考例句：

• When the bell rang, the children swarmed out of the school. 铃声一响，孩子们蜂拥而出离开了学校。
• When the rain started the crowd swarmed back into the hotel. 雨一开始下，人群就蜂拥回了旅社。

9 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 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。