2006年VOA标准英语-1,200 Dead From Cholera Outbreak in Angola

By Rowan Reid
Johannesburg
18 May 2006

A child suffering from cholera¹ receives treatment in a medical center in Boa Vista², May 14, 2006   
  
More than 34,000 people have fallen ill and 1,200 have died from a massive cholera outbreak in Angola. The international aid organization, Medecins Sans Frontieres, says the epidemic³ is largely caused by poor water supply and sanitation⁴ in country's capital, Luanda.  It is still unclear whether the outbreak has reached its peak.

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The disease, which first appeared in the Angolan capital in February, is now killing⁵ more than 30 people a day and is spreading to other parts of the country.

Already more than 1,200 people have died and Medecins Sans Frontieres says the outbreak is not yet under control.

MSF says the main reason for the disease's appearance and rapid spread is poor sanitation and a hugely inefficient⁶ water supply.

David Weatherill, MSF director of water and sanitation, says Luanda's population has tripled in the past decade and little has been done to meet the increasing water and sanitation needs.

"Twenty litres, which is the minimum standard, they are paying half a dollar per day. Seventy per cent of the population of Angola are living on less than $1 a day," said Weatherill.  "Most of this population is living on a huge rubbish dump without any basic services provided, so within this environment it's really the perfect conditions for a cholera outbreak to start and to spread like wildfire throughout the whole city."

MSF has set up treatment centers in all the affected⁷ areas, but says the death toll⁸ is rising because people do not have the means to protect themselves because the water provided is not adequately sanitized.

The aid organization expects the current outbreak to wane⁹ with the end of the wet season, next month, but warns that more outbreaks will occur in the future, if money is not is not spent on upgrading infrastructure¹⁰.

And, MSF's Head of Mission in Angola Richard Veerman says the government must take responsibility for that.

"There are certain plans already been introduced since 2003, but practically nothing has happened," said Veerman.  "And, we all know that oil prices are up, I don't have to tell anybody. Angola has a lot of oil and also revenue from diamonds so in our modest opinion, we think that some of those resources should be used to improve the water supply and sewage systems in Luanda."

Last week, the Angolan government set up a committee to tackle the situation; but, more than 12 weeks into the outbreak, there are no immediate¹¹ signs of a long-term solution.

1 cholera   

n.霍乱

参考例句：

• The cholera outbreak has been contained.霍乱的发生已被控制住了。
• Cholera spread like wildfire through the camps.霍乱在营地里迅速传播。

2 vista   

n.远景，深景，展望，回想

参考例句：

• From my bedroom window I looked out on a crowded vista of hills and rooftops.我从卧室窗口望去，远处尽是连绵的山峦和屋顶。
• These uprisings come from desperation and a vista of a future without hope.发生这些暴动是因为人们被逼上了绝路，未来看不到一点儿希望。

3 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

4 sanitation   

n.公共卫生，环境卫生，卫生设备

参考例句：

• The location is exceptionally poor,viewed from the sanitation point.从卫生角度来看，这个地段非常糟糕。
• Many illnesses are the result,f inadequate sanitation.许多疾病都来源于不健全的卫生设施。

5 killing   

n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财

参考例句：

• Investors are set to make a killing from the sell-off.投资者准备清仓以便大赚一笔。
• Last week my brother made a killing on Wall Street.上个周我兄弟在华尔街赚了一大笔。

6 inefficient   

adj.效率低的，无效的

参考例句：

• The inefficient operation cost the firm a lot of money.低效率的运作使该公司损失了许多钱。
• Their communication systems are inefficient in the extreme.他们的通讯系统效率非常差。

7 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。

8 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

9 wane   

n.衰微，亏缺，变弱；v.变小，亏缺，呈下弦

参考例句：

• The moon is on the wane.月亮渐亏。
• Her enthusiasm for him was beginning to wane.她对他的热情在开始减退。

10 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。

11 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。