E. coli outbreak in Denmark under control

    COPENHAGEN, June 7 (Xinhua) -- The outbreak of infections caused by E. coli bacteria may be over in Denmark as no new cases have been reported here since Friday.
    According to Denmark's National Serum¹ Institute (NSI), there are 18 confirmed cases of severe intestinal² infection caused by exposure to the bacteria as of Monday. No new infections have been reported since Friday, it added.
    The confirmed cases are said to consist(组成) of 10 men and 8 women aged³ between 23 and 81 years of age. Seven show symptoms of kidney failure which is associated with advanced stages of the infection.
    All but one are believed to have contracted the infection while traveling in northern Germany, where the outbreak started, the NSI said.
    So far, the E. coli infection has claimed 21 lives in Germany, which reports over 2,100 confirmed and suspected cases. It has also spread to 12 countries according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
    "This particular strain of E.coli has been identified in some people sporadically⁴ in the past, but it has not been known to have been associated with outbreaks in the past," a WHO spokesperson said Friday, adding it was a "very, very rare strain."Health authorities in Germany now suspect bean sprouts⁵ as the source of contamination in this outbreak, although this is yet to be confirmed.
    Dr Kaare Moelbak, an epidemiologist at NSI told Danish media Sunday that bean sprouts were a "very likely" source of contamination.
    Cucumbers were initially⁶ suspected and Denmark's food authority continues to warn against eating raw tomato, cucumber or lettuce⁷ from Germany until the source is established.
    Children are normally most vulnerable to E. coli infection but most of those infected in this outbreak are above the age of 20 years, Moelbak told Xinhua last week.
    He said children are likely less affected⁸ by this outbreak as they usually eat fewer salads than adults.
    In Germany, it is mostly women who have been affected by the infection. Moelbak explained the skew in infections saying women tend to choose to eat more vegetables than men, in comments made to Danish media Thursday.（本文由在线英语听力室整理编辑）

1 serum   

n.浆液，血清，乳浆

参考例句：

• The serum is available to the general public.一般公众均可获得血清。
• Untreated serum contains a set of 11 proteins called complement.未经处理的血清含有一组蛋白质，共11种，称为补体。

2 intestinal   

adj.肠的；肠壁；肠道细菌

参考例句：

• A few other conditions are in high intestinal obstruction. 其它少数情况是高位肠梗阻。 来自辞典例句
• This complication has occasionally occurred following the use of intestinal antiseptics. 这种并发症偶而发生在使用肠道抗菌剂上。 来自辞典例句

3 aged   

adj.年老的，陈年的

参考例句：

• He had put on weight and aged a little.他胖了，也老点了。
• He is aged,but his memory is still good.他已年老，然而记忆力还好。

4 sporadically   

adv.偶发地，零星地

参考例句：

• There are some trees sporadically around his house. 他的房子周围零星地有点树木。 来自辞典例句
• As for other aspects, we will sporadically hand out questionnaires. 在其他方面，我们会偶尔发送调查问卷。 来自互联网

5 sprouts   

n.新芽，嫩枝( sprout的名词复数 )v.发芽( sprout的第三人称单数 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出

参考例句：

• The wheat sprouts grew perceptibly after the rain. 下了一场雨，麦苗立刻见长。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The sprouts have pushed up the earth. 嫩芽把土顶起来了。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

6 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。

7 lettuce   

n.莴苣；生菜

参考例句：

• Get some lettuce and tomatoes so I can make a salad.买些莴苣和西红柿，我好做色拉。
• The lettuce is crisp and cold.莴苣松脆爽口。

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。