VOA标准英语2014--欧洲发现新禽流感病毒

 

New Bird Flu Strain Reaches Europe 欧洲发现新禽流感病毒

A new strain of bird flu – known as H5N8 – has been detected in Europe. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) says it poses a serious threat to poultry¹ there. African countries have been put on alert for possible cases.

The FAO’s Ian Douglas says researchers have been monitoring the spread of H5N8.

“We have been following this particular strain for quite some time. It’ been detected in Asia – in China, Japan and South Korea. It’s caused disease in poultry in those countries and has been detected in wild birds there. It’s related to the influenza² strain that spread across the world in the mid³-2000s, but it is a different virus.”

Douglas is head of the FAO’s Crisis Management Center for Animal Health. He said, in Asia, the new bird flu strain led to the slaughter⁴ of poultry on farms where it was discovered, along with quarantines and some temporary restrictions⁵ on trade.

“There’s much more work that’s done in the lead-up to that and, in part, this is involving better detection, better surveillance and good laboratory diagnostic techniques,” he said.

H5N8 was also found in migratory⁶ birds and waterfowl in Asia. It’s now in at least three European countries.

“It’s been reported in the last two or three weeks from Germany, the Netherlands and the U.K. And each of those countries as it’s affected⁸ a poultry unit has responded with their well planned and executed response techniques. And certainly they’re increasing their level of awareness⁹ and surveillance. In addition, we’ve heard that some wild bird surveillance has resulted in this virus being detected,” said Douglas.

This strain of avian flu is said to pose a threat especially in countries along the Black Sea with limited resources and along East Atlantic migratory routes of wild birds.

Douglas said the spread of H5N8 appears similar to what was seen in the mid 2000s with the H5N1 strain. So, countries outside of Europe are on alert.

“Certainly, in those instances it did spread to some of the countries, for instance, in West Africa. The H5N1, with a great deal of work from all of the countries and agencies involved, has been limited now to many fewer countries than occurred initially¹⁰. And we’ve not seen a reoccurrence of H5N1 in West Africa, for instance, since the initial spread some six years ago. But there’s every reason to be concerned that we could see a repeat of that pattern with this different strain,” he said.

Avian flu viruses spread very quickly and there’s usually a very high mortality rate among poultry. Some fowl⁷, like ducks, may carry the virus, but show no symptoms. However, they can spread the disease.

Asked if H5N8 poses any threat to humans, the FAO official said, “There is no evidence with the limited experience of this virus that any humans have been infected. It’s believed that the nature of the virus is not well adapted to invade human cells. However, we’re conscious that other influenza viruses have made that cross and in some cases causing severe illness in humans. We very much take the advice of WHO on this point for the moment. Their statements are that they don’t see a human impact.”

The Food and Agriculture Organization is working with the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) in tracking the new strain of avian flu. They urge countries and poultry farmers to increase – what’s called – bio-security, which is the protection of agricultural animals from infectious agents.

1 poultry   

n.家禽，禽肉

参考例句：

• There is not much poultry in the shops. 商店里禽肉不太多。
• What do you feed the poultry on? 你们用什么饲料喂养家禽?

2 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。

3 mid   

adj.中央的，中间的

参考例句：

• Our mid-term exam is pending.我们就要期中考试了。
• He switched over to teaching in mid-career.他在而立之年转入教学工作。

4 slaughter   

n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀

参考例句：

• I couldn't stand to watch them slaughter the cattle.我不忍看他们宰牛。
• Wholesale slaughter was carried out in the name of progress.大规模的屠杀在维护进步的名义下进行。

5 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

6 migratory   

n.候鸟，迁移

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• This does not negate the idea of migratory aptitude.这并没有否定迁移能力这一概念。

7 fowl   

n.家禽，鸡，禽肉

参考例句：

• Fowl is not part of a traditional brunch.禽肉不是传统的早午餐的一部分。
• Since my heart attack,I've eaten more fish and fowl and less red meat.自从我患了心脏病后，我就多吃鱼肉和禽肉，少吃红色肉类。

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

9 awareness   

n.意识，觉悟，懂事，明智

参考例句：

• There is a general awareness that smoking is harmful.人们普遍认识到吸烟有害健康。
• Environmental awareness has increased over the years.这些年来人们的环境意识增强了。

10 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。