VOA慢速英语2016 寨卡病毒与出生缺陷的关联（在线收听）

Researchers: Link Between Zika Virus and Birth Defects 寨卡病毒与出生缺陷的关联

Researchers in Slovenia say they have found some evidence of a link between the Zika virus and an increase in some birth defects.

斯洛文尼亚研究人员称发现的证据表明寨卡病毒与一些出生缺陷增加之间存在关联。

They published the study this week in the New England Journal of Medicine. The Journal also published a report from a group of American health experts that supports the Slovenian research.

他们在《新英格兰医学杂志》上发表了这份研究，该杂志还发表过一篇由一批美国卫生专家撰写的报告，该报告也支持斯洛文尼亚的这份研究。

The researchers studied a woman who was infected with the Zika virus. She had an abortion after an examination showed the fetus had severe health problems.

研究者调查了一名感染了寨卡病毒的妇女，在检查出胎儿有严重的健康问题后她就堕了胎。

They said the mother and members of her family had not had the health problems found in the fetus. And the researchers believe that neither the woman nor members of her family had been infected with any other viruses that cause health problems in fetuses.

研究者称这名母亲和她的家人都没有胎儿的这种健康问题，研究者认为这名妇女和她的家人都没有感染过导致胎儿健康问题的其他病毒。

When the researchers examined the aborted fetus they found the Zika virus. And they found that it had only attacked the brain. They believe this is strong evidence that the virus causes birth defects. But they said more study must be done to confirm their beliefs.

研究者检查被堕胎掉的胎儿时发现了寨卡病毒，而且这种病毒只侵害大脑，他们认为这就有力地说明该病毒导致了出生缺陷，但他们说必须做进一步的研究才能证实这一观点。

People infected with the Zika virus suffer from fever, rash, joint and muscle pain and red eyes. It is not a severe illness. But because of its possible link to birth defects, experts believe it is a great danger to pregnant women.

寨卡病毒感染者会出现发烧、出疹子、关节和肌肉疼痛及红眼的症状，这种病不严重，但因为它可能会导致出生缺陷，所以专家认为它对孕妇的危害更大。

The World Health Organization (WHO) said the virus could be linked to 4,000 suspected cases in Brazil of microcephaly, a condition in which babies are born with very small heads. It causes severe brain damage.

世卫组织称这种病毒可能与巴西出现的4000个小头症疑似病例有关，有这种病症的新生儿头部特别小，会导致 严重的大脑损伤。

In February, the WHO said the virus is a global health emergency. And it predicted that Zika could infect as many as 4 million people across the Americas this year.

二月份，世卫组织宣布这种病毒为全球卫生紧急状况，并预测寨卡病毒今年会在美国感染到400万人。

The declaration meant more money and other help would be given to fight the virus. But the health agency did not say there should be a ban on travel or trade in areas where the virus is present.

该声明意味着将动用更多的资金等资源来对付这种病毒，但世卫组织并没有表示应该禁止到病毒感染地区旅行或做贸易。

Some health experts say pregnant women, or women trying to get pregnant, should not travel to Brazil. The 2016 Summer Olympics are taking place in the South American country.

一些医疗专家称孕妇和准备怀孕的妇女不应该去巴西旅行，2016夏季奥运会即将在这个南美国家举办。

This week, U.S. public health officials told Congress that workers must kill the mosquitoes that carry the virus if its spread is to be stopped. They said the mosquito that carries the disease lives in parts of the southern United States and on the island of Puerto Rico. They said those areas are at risk of having an outbreak of the virus.

本周，美国公共卫生官员告诉国会，要遏制这种病毒的蔓延，工作人员必须杀灭携带这种病毒的蚊子，他们说传播这种病毒的蚊子生活在美国和波多黎各部分地区，他们称这些地区有爆发寨卡病毒的风险。

No treatment or vaccine for the Zika virus exists. But drug companies in India, Japan and France are working to develop possible vaccines.

目前没有对付寨卡病毒的疗法或疫苗，但印度、日本和法国一些公司已经在努力开发疫苗。

Words in This Story

infect – v. to cause (someone or something) to become sick or affected by disease

abortion – n. a medical procedure used to end a pregnancy and cause the death of the fetus

outbreak – n. a sudden start or increase of fighting or disease