U.N. aid agencies say Zimbabwe is grappling with a cholera crisis of unprecedented proportions. They say the social and health breakdown in the country is making it difficult to gauge the full extent of the epidemic.
联合国援助机构说，津巴布韦正面临空前的霍乱危机。他们说，这个国家的社会和健康系统已经崩溃，使它们无法充分估计这种疾病流行的严重程度。
The United Nations reports the total number of suspected cholera cases in Zimbabwe is approaching 14,000, with nearly 600 deaths. But a World Health Organization spokeswoman, Fadela Chaib, says these figures have to be taken with some caution.
联合国的报告说，在津巴布韦，被怀疑为霍乱病例的人数已接近1万4000人，有近600人已经死亡。世界卫生组织发言人费德拉.查伊博说，这些数字必须谨慎加以对待。
She says most of the reported cases and deaths from cholera come from the capital, Harare and two other major cities.
她说，大部分霍乱病例和死亡的报告都是来自首都哈拉雷和其他两个主要城市。
"We are giving these numbers based on the best knowledge we have on the situation on the ground," said Chaib. "But, the reporting and surveillance systems are weak in most of the districts in the country. So, we will not be surprised if when we get into these remote areas or when we have a better tracking system that the numbers of cases and deaths will be more important than what we are reporting presently."
她说：“我们公布的这些数字是根据我们尽最大努力对实地情况的了解。但是，在这个国家的大多数地区，报告和监视系统都很薄弱。所以，如果当我们能够进入偏远地区或我们有一个更好的跟踪系统，病例和死亡人数会比我们目前所报告的更多，我们不会对此感到奇怪。”
In a crisis situation, such as that unfolding in Zimbabwe, Chaib says the World Health Organization sets up an early warning system to monitor the disease. She says the World Health Organization depends upon volunteers and health personnel to go to hospitals and clinics to record all the illnesses and deaths.
查伊博说，在危机的情况下，就像津巴布韦目前的局面，世界卫生组织就会建立一个早期预警系统来监测疾病的流行。她说，世界卫生组织依靠志愿人员和医务人员前往医院和诊所，并且记录下所有的患者和死亡的数字。
But in this case, she says the World Health Organization is unable to get the people it needs to maintain an effective surveillance system. She attributes this to the breakdown of the country's social and economic infrastructures.
但是，她说，在津巴布韦，世界卫生组织无法得到所需要的人员来维持一个有效的监视系统。她把原因归咎于这个国家社会和经济基础设施的崩溃。
"The health infrastructure in the country is very weak and it is very difficult to find medical supplies or equipment," said Chaib. "And, also health workers are not well paid and they leave their work, in fact, because the economic and social conditions are deteriorating in the country on a continuous scale. There are also a lot of strikes by the health workers because they are not paid. Or if they are paid, it is very late and their conditions of work are not good.
她说：“这个国家的卫生基础设施非常薄弱，很难找到医疗用品或设备。而且，卫生工作者的薪水微薄，有的离开了他们的岗位。事实上，这也是由于津巴布韦经济和社会条件持续大规模恶化。另外，许多卫生保健系统的工作人员举行罢工，因为他们没有得到工资。或者，如果他们发到了工资，通常也已经拖欠了很长时间。他们的工作条件也很恶劣。”
The U.N. aid agencies report the outbreak is worsening amidst growing criminality in the country. They say security is bad and looting is on the increase, as are attacks and robberies of humanitarian aid workers.
联合国援助机构报告说，津巴布韦霍乱疫情的爆发正在恶化，与此同时，这个国家的犯罪行为正在上升。救援机构报告说，安全局面每况愈下，抢劫事件正在增加，与此同时，还发生袭击和抢劫人道主义援助人员的事件。
Cholera is having a devastating impact, as 43 out of Zimbabwe's 62 districts are reporting cases. In addition, the United Nations reports cholera is spreading to South Africa, Botswana and Mozambique.
霍乱正在对津巴布韦产生破坏性影响，在津巴布韦的62个区里，已经有43个区报告有疫情发生。此外，联合国的报告还说，霍乱正在蔓延到南非、博茨瓦纳和莫桑比克。 |