黑热病正在世界范围内迅速蔓延

89 黑热病正在世界范围内迅速蔓延

DEVELOPMENT REPORT ?September 3, 2001: Leishmaniasis DiseaseBy Jill Moss¹

（Start at 1'01"） This is Bill White with the VOA Special English Development Report.
Health experts are growing concerned about the rise in (1)leishmaniasis (LEASH-ma-NIGH-a-sis) disease around the world. (2)Currently², the World Health Organization estimates twelve-million people are (3)infected with the disease. However, experts say that number is low because leishmaniasis has spread during the past ten years. They say that three-hundred-fifty million people in eighty-eight countries may be at risk of being infected. Leishmaniasis is caused by tiny organisms called (4)parasites. Small insects called sand flies spread the disease.
Barbara Herwaldt is a health expert at the Centers for Disease Control in the United States. She says there are two major forms of leishmaniasis. The (5)visceral form affects (6)organs in the body. It can cause death if not treated quickly. Signs of visceral leishmaniasis include high body temperature, weight loss, a swelling³ of the liver and (7)spleen and blood problems.
Another kind of leishmaniasis is called (8)cutaneous, or skin-related. It causes serious wounds on the face, arms and legs.
Although leishmaniasis is found in almost ninety countries, the majority of cases are in just a few countries. Most victims of visceral leishmaniasis are in (9)Bangladesh, Brazil, India, (10)Nepal and Sudan. The majority of skin-related cases are in (11)Afghanistan, Brazil, Iran, Peru, Saudi Arabia and Syria.
Health experts say public knowledge of leishmaniasis has been lacking. In addition, only thirty-two countries affected⁴ by the disease currently report their cases. Health experts believe only six-hundred-thousand cases are officially reported of an estimated two-million new cases each year.
The ability to treat leishmaniasis differs around the world. Tests to identify the disease may be difficult to perform. Health experts are also concerned about a lack of money for treatments. Because of these problems, they say researchers need to develop a vaccine⁵ medicine to prevent the disease. Experts say a vaccine is becoming even more urgent as AIDS and H-I-V cases increase around the world. They say leishmaniasis increases the rate at which AIDS develops. And the number of people with both diseases is increasing in many areas of the world.
This VOA Special English Development Report was written by Jill Moss.

 

(1) leishmaniasis[ 7liFmE5naiEsis ]n.[医] 利什曼病(尤指黑热病)
(2) currently[5kQrEntlI]adv.普遍地, 通常地, 现在, 当前
(3) infect[ in5fekt ]vt.[医] 传染, 感染
(4) parasite[ 5pArEsait ]n.寄生虫, 食客
(5) visceral[ 5visErEl ]adj.内脏的, 影响内脏的
(6) organ[ 5C:^En ]n.[机]元件, 机构, 机关, 机关报[乐]风琴, 管风琴, 嗓音[生物]器官
(7) spleen[ spli:n ]n.脾
(8) cutaneous[ kju(:)5teinjEs ]adj.皮肤的, 影响皮肤的
(9) Bangladesh[ 7bB:N^lE5deF ]孟加拉国[亚洲]
(10) Nepal[ ni5pC:l ]n.尼泊尔(亚洲国家)
(11) Afghanistan[ Af5^AnistAn ]n.阿富汗(西南亚国家)

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 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。

3 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。

4 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。

5 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。