VOA标准英语2014--治愈艾滋病毒将触手可及

 

The End of AIDS Could be Within Reach 治愈艾滋病毒将触手可及

WASHINGTON—

This year's World AIDS Day focuses on how to achieve an AIDS-free generation. The United Nations predicts that if prevention and treatment services are scaled up, the epidemic¹ will no longer be a global threat in 15 years. But if goals are not met, the pandemic could get worse.

For 30 years, Dr. Anthony Fauci has been the director of the National Institute of Allergy² and Infectious Diseases. In 1984, there were no drugs that targeted HIV/AIDS. There are now more than 30. 

Fauci describes the progress in controlling HIV/AIDS as “extraordinary.”

"If you can put someone on anti-retrovirals relatively³ early in the course of their infection ... let us say they are a 25-year-old man or woman, you could look them in the eye as I do when I see them in my clinic three times a week, and tell them if they stay on their drug, you could project that they could live an additional 50, five-zero, years, which is one of the most extraordinary accomplishments⁴ in biomedical research in translation," said Fauci.

But the latest study shows only 30 percent of Americans with HIV are getting the right treatment for HIV. The number drops by half for those between the ages of 18 and 24.

Some experts blame the human factor: some people are afraid to find out their test results, others are tired of taking pills, don't feel like using condoms, and worry about the stigma⁵ that comes from having HIV.

Howard University in Washington sponsors a yearly conference to examine the stigma associated with this disease. Rod McCoy, who is HIV-positive, works with an organization that provides HIV education and testing.

"One of the things I am concerned about as a health educator is people staying on their meds, but also people who are not infected having the mentality⁶ of, 'Oh, people take medication, so if I get infected, I will be fine.'  My concern is around the complacency around prevention because of the success of treatment,” said McCoy.

Dr. Fauci tells people at forums⁷ like those at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington that complacency is why a vaccine⁸ against HIV is so needed.

"When we start seeing that there is such a low level of infection and the numbers look good, that is when we are going to have a rebound⁹.  My conclusion, then, is that it really is essential to durably¹⁰ control and end the AIDS epidemic is to have a vaccine," he said.

Even with extraordinary accomplishments in AIDS treatments that are driving down the numbers of people who get HIV, more than 35 million people around the world still have the virus, and the United Nations reports another 1.5 million people died from it in 2012, far too many lives to become complacent¹¹. 

1 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

2 allergy   

n.(因食物、药物等而引起的)过敏症

参考例句：

• He developed an allergy to pollen.他对花粉过敏。
• The patient had an allergy to penicillin.该患者对青霉素过敏。

3 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

4 accomplishments   

n.造诣；完成( accomplishment的名词复数 )；技能；成绩；成就

参考例句：

• It was one of the President's greatest accomplishments. 那是总统最伟大的成就之一。
• Among her accomplishments were sewing,cooking,playing the piano and dancing. 她的才能包括缝纫、烹调、弹钢琴和跳舞。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

5 stigma   

n.耻辱，污名；(花的)柱头

参考例句：

• Being an unmarried mother used to carry a social stigma.做未婚母亲在社会上曾是不光彩的事。
• The stigma of losing weighed heavily on the team.失败的耻辱让整个队伍压力沉重。

6 mentality   

n.心理，思想，脑力

参考例句：

• He has many years'experience of the criminal mentality.他研究犯罪心理有多年经验。
• Running a business requires a very different mentality from being a salaried employee.经营企业所要求具备的心态和上班族的心态截然不同。

7 forums   

讨论会； 座谈会； 广播专题讲话节目； 集会的公共场所( forum的名词复数 )； 论坛，讨论会，专题讨论节目； 法庭

参考例句：

• A few of the forums were being closely monitored by the administrators. 有些论坛被管理员严密监控。
• It can cast a dark cloud over these forums. 它将是的论坛上空布满乌云。

8 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。

9 rebound   

v.弹回；n.弹回，跳回

参考例句：

• The vibrations accompanying the rebound are the earth quake.伴随这种回弹的振动就是地震。
• Our evil example will rebound upon ourselves.我们的坏榜样会回到我们自己头上的。

10 durably   

adv.经久地，坚牢地

参考例句：

• Note Inner Tube material is copper, radiates quickly and durably. 备注：进气管为钢管设计，耐用、散热快。 来自互联网
• Normal ratings (pressures, temperatures, time setting, etc.)shall be durably marked. 译：正常极限。压力。温度。时间。将执久标示。 来自互联网

11 complacent   

adj.自满的；自鸣得意的

参考例句：

• We must not become complacent the moment we have some success.我们决不能一见成绩就自满起来。
• She was complacent about her achievements.她对自己的成绩沾沾自喜。