VOA慢速英语2019 美国官员称消灭艾滋病毒风险的进程处于停滞状态

US Officials: Progress in Ending Threat from HIV Has Stopped

United States health officials are reporting problems in meeting the government's goal of ending the HIV epidemic¹ by the year 2030.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC, reports there are about 38,000 new cases of HIV each year across the country.

HIV is the name for the human immunodeficiency virus. It can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome², commonly known as AIDS.

The CDC says that white Americans at risk of getting HIV are seven times more likely than blacks or Hispanics to receive a drug shown to be effective at preventing infection. The drug is called PrEP. It has been shown to cut the risk of getting HIV through sex by as much as 99%.

The CDC says less than half of at-risk whites use the PrEP. It usually requires doctors' orders.

The Trump³ administration recently announced a plan to provide PrEP free to Americans whose health insurance does not pay for prescription⁴ medicines.

The medications, Truvada and Descovy, are made possible in part by a donation from the maker⁵ of the drugs, Gilead Sciences. The federal government is paying the manufacturer for several months to distribute the medications.

Without insurance, one month of the drugs costs between $1,600 and $2,000.

CDC officials note that 40% of HIV infections involve people who do not know they have the virus. They urge everyone to get tested and those who test positive to take daily medications to control the virus.

Words in This Story

epidemic – n. an outbreak of an illness that effects many people

insurance – n. a program by which a company or government agency provides a guarantee of payment for damages, sickness or death in exchange for payments by the person named in the policy

distribute – v. to give away or release

positive – adj. showing the presence or qualities of something

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 syndrome   

n.综合病症；并存特性

参考例句：

• The Institute says that an unidentified virus is to blame for the syndrome. 该研究所表示,引起这种综合症的是一种尚未确认的病毒。
• Results indicated that 11 fetuses had Down syndrome. 结果表明有11个胎儿患有唐氏综合征。

3 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

4 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

5 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。