VOA标准英语2014--West African Immigrants Worry About Family, Friends as Ebola Spreads

 

West African Immigrants Worry About Family, Friends as Ebola Spreads

NEW YORK—

The deadly Ebola virus in West Africa has taken the lives of more than 1,000 people, according to the World Health Organization.  In New York City, many Africans worry about their relatives and friends as the unprecedented¹ outbreak sweeps through the region a continent away.  

Haunting² scenes of Ebola victims in West Africa are a common sight on television news.  But for many West African immigrants living in New York City, the deadly outbreak is personal.

New York City is home to more than 70,000 people born in Western Africa.  Many hail³ from countries hardest hit by Ebola, including Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.  Many still have family and friends in those nations.

Like Leo Fraser, whose aunt who lives in Sierra Leone.

“Right now the family is figuring out how to get her more supplies, so she won't have to leave the home.  You know, because the more she interacts⁴ with the general population the more she is at risk for contracting Ebola," said Fraser.

Ebola has no known cure.  And the current West African outbreak is on pace to infect more people than all the previous outbreaks combined.

This is worrisome news in the Bronx, where half of the city’s West African population lives.  Imam Mohamadou Soukona, leads his community, or jama’ah, in prayers and collects donations for the sick.

“The community in the jama’ah will make a doa to pray for the people who are infected with this disease," said Soukona.

The mosque’s public relations manager, Bakary Camara:

“As individuals here in this community, we warn our members to be careful of anyone that they think might come from these areas and advise them to make sure that they look and take doctors' advice - not to have bodily contact that will in a sense contract the disease," said Camara.

West African residents expressed hope the global effort to contain the disease will work, but also frustration⁵ they could not do more to help.

1 unprecedented   

adj.无前例的，新奇的

参考例句：

• The air crash caused an unprecedented number of deaths.这次空难的死亡人数是空前的。
• A flood of this sort is really unprecedented.这样大的洪水真是十年九不遇。

2 haunting   

adj.萦绕心头的；不易忘怀的；无法甩脱的；给人以强烈感受的v.常去；缠扰（某人）；萦绕心头

参考例句：

• The film's haunting musical theme stayed in my head for days. 那部电影挥之不去的主题旋律多日来萦绕于我的脑际。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The carol has a primitive strength and haunting simplicity. 这首颂歌有一种原始的力量和令人难忘的纯朴。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 hail   

n.雹，一阵；vi.下雹；vt.高呼，为...喝彩

参考例句：

• Hail fell with such violence that it broke windows.冰雹猛落，把玻璃窗也砸破了。
• The people lined the streets to hail the returning heroes.人们夹道欢迎凯旋的英雄们。

4 interacts   

v.相互作用[影响]，互相配合( interact的第三人称单数 )；交流；沟通；合作

参考例句：

• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body. 这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Antigen interacts with the surface of sensitized mast cells. 抗原与致敏的肥大细胞表面互相作用。 来自辞典例句

5 frustration   

n.挫折，失败，失效，落空

参考例句：

• He had to fight back tears of frustration.他不得不强忍住失意的泪水。
• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration.他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。