2006年VOA标准英语-First Avian Flu Outbreak Hits Africa

By John Shields
Washington
10 February 2006
 
watch Africa Bird Flu report 

Chickens for sale in a Lagos market  
  
The World Health Organization says this week's outbreak of the deadly H5N1 avian flu virus in Nigeria demands immediate¹ action and officials are warning the disease could easily spread to neighboring countries. 

---------------------------------------------------

Bird farms across Africa's most populous² nation have been placed under quarantine following Wednesday's announcement the H5N1 bird flu virus has now reached Nigeria. 

Health experts say the outbreak could have staggering consequences for the African nation, where millions of people keep chickens in backyards for badly-needed food.

Alex Thiermann of the World Organization for Animal Health, which works closely with the United Nations, says Africa's first documented case of avian flu is of great concern for the entire continent. 

Alex Thiermann  
  
"And it's something the OIC has been saying for awhile, that were the disease to get to Africa - it's a continent where most countries have very weak veterinary infrastructure³ - the rapidity to which the disease can be fought, and how quickly we can eliminate it, has to do very directly related to the quality of the veterinary infrastructures," he said.

Experts are concerned that sub-Saharan Africa, with about 600 million of the world's poorest people, is particularly ill-equipped to deal with a major health crisis. 

They say any mass slaughters⁴, such as those used to control the virus in Asia, will be difficult.

Jide Idris   
  
Nigeria's Health Minister, Dr. Jide Idris, says the government is working to contain the problem.

"We're going out now to alert all the health facilities/services to be on the lookout⁵ for species with similar symptoms, and then get them geared towards, now get them alerted to, this urgent problem," he said.

Scientists fear H5N1 could mutate into a form that passes easily from person to person, sparking a human influenza⁶ pandemic that could kill millions.

As avian flu spreads around the world, more people are exposed to it, increasing the chances of a dangerous mutation⁷.

Since 2003, the virus has killed at least 88 people in Southeast Asia, China and Turkey.

1 immediate   

adj.立即的；直接的，最接近的；紧靠的

参考例句：

• His immediate neighbours felt it their duty to call.他的近邻认为他们有责任去拜访。
• We declared ourselves for the immediate convocation of the meeting.我们主张立即召开这个会议。

2 populous   

adj.人口稠密的，人口众多的

参考例句：

• London is the most populous area of Britain.伦敦是英国人口最稠密的地区。
• China is the most populous developing country in the world.中国是世界上人口最多的发展中国家。

3 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

4 slaughters   

v.屠杀，杀戮，屠宰( slaughter的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• These vast slaughters have since become notorious. 此后，这些大规模的屠杀，就变成了很不光彩的新闻。 来自辞典例句
• Remembered that despairs and hope that each other slaughters. 记得绝望和希望，彼此厮杀。 来自互联网

5 lookout   

n.注意，前途，瞭望台

参考例句：

• You can see everything around from the lookout.从了望台上你可以看清周围的一切。
• It's a bad lookout for the company if interest rates don't come down.如果利率降不下来，公司的前景可就不妙了。

6 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。

7 mutation   

n.变化，变异，转变

参考例句：

• People who have this mutation need less sleep than others.有这种突变的人需要的睡眠比其他人少。
• So far the discussion has centered entirely around mutation in the strict sense.到目前为止，严格来讲，讨论完全集中于围绕突变问题上。