HEALTH REPORT - Preparing for the Next Flu Pandemic

HEALTH REPORT - Preparing for the Next Flu Pandemic
By Cynthia Kirk

Broadcast: Wednesday, November 24, 2004

I'm Bob Doughty¹ with the VOA Special English Health Report.

There has not been a worldwide outbreak of influenza² since nineteen sixty-eight. Experts say there should have been another by now. They hope to be prepared to limit the effects when the next one finally happens.

The so-called³ Spanish flu in nineteen eighteen became the most deadly influenza pandemic ever recorded. A pandemic is when a disease⁴ spreads around the world. It killed an estimated⁵ twenty million to fifty million people. Almost half were young adults.

There were two other flu pandemics in the twentieth century. The Asian flu struck in nineteen fifty-seven, and the Hong Kong flu in nineteen sixty-eight.

Scientists at the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say the cause of the Spanish flu pandemic is not clear. But the two others are known to have resulted from a human virus that became mixed with an avian influenza virus. And that could happen again.

Scientists first identified avian influenza in Italy more than one hundred years ago. Bird flu is caused by type A influenza viruses. Type A are the most common, and usually cause the most serious flu outbreaks in people.

Currently⁶ the most serious kind of bird flu is known as a-h-five-n-one. It has spread among chickens and ducks in Asia. The virus has infected at least forty-four people in Thailand and Vietnam this year. More than thirty of them have died.

Researchers worry that the virus could spread quickly worldwide if it gains the ability to pass easily between people. Many researchers say governments must do more to support planning for the next flu pandemic.

This month, the World Health Organization held a meeting to discuss efforts to develop a vaccine⁷ to prevent infection with the virus. About fifty experts met in Geneva.

Klaus Stohr heads the global influenza program at the W.H.O. He says this is the first chance to produce a vaccine that would limit the damage caused by a flu pandemic. This is the result of improvements⁸ in the way scientists study flu outbreaks in people and animals.

Scientists are developing two vaccines⁹ based on the current bird flu virus in Asia. To have both of these "candidate¹⁰ vaccines" tested within a year would cost an estimated thirteen million dollars each. Medical experts say a vaccine is unlikely¹¹ to prevent another flu pandemic, but it could save millions of lives.

This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Cynthia Kirk. I'm Bob Doughty.

1 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

2 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。

3 so-called   

adj.所谓的，号称的

参考例句：

• These were the so-called mainframe machines.它们被称为主机。
• Let's see what this so-called button does.让我们来看看为什么这个按钮叫这个名字。

4 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

5 estimated   

adj．根据估计的

参考例句：

• She estimated the breadth of the lake to be 500 metres. 她估计湖面大约有500米宽。
• The man estimated for the repair of the car. 那人估算了修理汽车的费用。

6 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

7 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

8 improvements   

增加或修改( improvement的名词复数 )； 改进； 改善； 改良

参考例句：

• improvements in efficiency at the factory 工厂效率的提高
• They've spent a lot of money on home improvements. 他们花了很多钱装修家居。

9 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

10 candidate   

n.候选人；候补者；投考者，申请求职者

参考例句：

• Voters like a candidate who has the common touch. 投票者喜欢那些平易近人的候选人。
• The local newspapers dressed up the candidate as a boxer.当地报纸把那个候选人描绘成一个拳击手。

11 unlikely   

adj.未必的，多半不可能的；不大可能发生的

参考例句：

• It was very unlikely that he would do that.他不见得会做那种事。
• It is unlikely that she will come. 她不大可能来了。