HEALTH REPORT - Plague Outbreak in Eastern Congo

HEALTH REPORT - Plague¹ Outbreak in Eastern Congo
By Cynthia Kirk

Broadcast: Wednesday, March 02, 2005

I'm Gwen Outen the VOA Special English Health Report.

Plague is an ancient disease that can be treated now with antibacterial medicines. In fact, the World Health Organization says people are usually cured if treated quickly.

The W.H.O. had reports of more than two thousand cases of plague in nine countries in two thousand three. Almost all were in Africa. One hundred eighty-two people died.

Recently, in the Democratic Republic of Congo, there have been cases of a rare form of plague. Reports say at least sixty-one workers at a diamond mine in northeastern Congo have died of pneumonic² plague. Other cases have been found in the area around the mine.

The total number of cases is not known, but an outbreak of this size is described as unusual. It began in December. Officials say it took about two months to identify the disease.

The mine employed seven thousand people in Zobia, in Oriental³ province. Miners left the town and fled into the forest. Medical teams have gone to look for victims of the outbreak.

There are three forms of plague. Bubonic plague is the most common. Bubonic plague killed millions of Europeans in the Middle Ages. It is passed between animals and people by the bite of infected fleas⁵ or by handling an infected animal. It causes high body temperature and painful swelling⁶ of the lymph glands⁷.

Septicemic plague is when the infection spreads directly through the blood system.

Pneumonic plague is the least common but most aggressive form. It mainly attacks the lungs. It can be spread by flea⁴ bites. But it can also spread through the air through such things as coughing or sneezing.

Signs such as high temperature, chills⁸, pain, weakness and vomiting⁹ usually appear within a week. Without treatment, death can happen quickly.

Alain Decoux is head of operations in the D.R.C. for the international aid group Doctors Without Borders. He says there is a high level of insecurity around Zobia because it is a diamond producing area. He says recent clashes¹⁰ in the area caused the population to flee widely.

Just last week, attackers killed nine United Nations peacekeepers from Bangladesh in Ituri province in eastern Congo. Congo had war from nineteen ninety-eight to two thousand two. Even now the International Rescue Committee says one thousand people a day die from hunger and disease.

This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Cynthia Kirk. I'm Gwen Outen.

1 plague   

n.瘟疫，鼠疫，祸患，灾难；v.烦扰，使痛苦

参考例句：

• Plague was then prevailing in that city.当时瘟疫正在该城流行。
• The plague once could wipe out a village.鼠疫曾一度可以夺走整个村庄村民的生命。

2 pneumonic   

adj.肺的；肺炎的

参考例句：

• The chill superinduced a pneumonic condition. 受寒并发了肺炎。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• The fatality rate of pneumonic plague a staggering 95 percent. 肺鼠疫的死亡率是达到惊人95％。 来自互联网

3 oriental   

adj.东方的，东方人的，东方文化的

参考例句：

• China is an oriental country with a long history.中国是一个有着悠久历史的东方国家。
• They maintain a very powerful fleet in Oriental waters.他们在远东海域保持着一支非常强大的舰队。

4 flea   

n.跳蚤

参考例句：

• I'll put a flea in his ear if he bothers me once more.如果他再来打扰的话，我就要对他不客气了。
• Hunter has an interest in prowling around a flea market.亨特对逛跳蚤市场很感兴趣。

5 fleas   

n.跳蚤( flea的名词复数 )；爱财如命；没好气地（拒绝某人的要求）

参考例句：

• The dog has fleas. 这条狗有跳蚤。
• Nothing must be done hastily but killing of fleas. 除非要捉跳蚤，做事不可匆忙。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 swelling   

n.肿胀

参考例句：

• Use ice to reduce the swelling. 用冰敷消肿。
• There is a marked swelling of the lymph nodes. 淋巴结处有明显的肿块。

7 glands   

n.腺( gland的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a snake's poison glands 蛇的毒腺
• the sebaceous glands in the skin 皮脂腺

8 chills   

寒冷( chill的名词复数 )； 冷漠； 扫兴； [冶金学]激冷

参考例句：

• These evening damps and chills play Old Harry with one's bronchial tubes. 夜晚的湿气与寒冷对支气管有害。
• The bitter wind chills one to the bone. 寒风彻骨。

9 vomiting   

吐

参考例句：

• Symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting. 症状有腹泻和呕吐。
• Especially when I feel seasick, I can't stand watching someone else vomiting." 尤其晕船的时候，看不得人家呕。”

10 clashes   

冲突( clash的名词复数 )； 不协调； （两群人之间的）打斗

参考例句：

• Clashes broke out between police and demonstrators. 警方与示威者发生了冲突。
• Several policemen were injured in the clashes. 几名警察在冲突中受伤。