2006年VOA标准英语-Fresh Outbreak of Bird Flu Confirmed in Nigeria

By Gilbert da Costa
Abuja
26 May 2006

Two unidentified farm worker walk towards birds suspected of having bird flu virus   
  
Nigeria's agriculture ministry¹ has confirmed a new outbreak of a deadly strain of bird flu in the northern state of Kano.  Dead chickens were found to be infected. 

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Avian Flu Control teams have destroyed more than 16,000 chickens on a farm near Kano, to try to prevent the spread of the virus.

The Nigerian Veterinary Research Institute said Thursday it had tested samples of dead chickens from the farm, and found them to be infected with the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.

Aminu Isa, is a Kano resident, who has been following the bird flu outbreak in the city. He says farmers in the area are reluctant to report bird deaths.

"The problem is, because of the poor compensation, many farmers are even unwilling² to report the outbreak of the virus on their farms," he said.  "Because they believe, if they keep quiet, and decide to kill them and sell them, they will make more money. So, even the farmers want to play things down."

The government says it is worried at the resurgence³ of the disease in Kano, a month after it was declared free of the virus. The government, with the help of international organizations, has intensified⁴ its surveillance.

The United States Thursday gave Nigeria specialized⁵ equipment and supplies worth $350,000 to support the fight against the spread of avian influenza⁶.

Ezenwa Nwakanobi, an official of the agriculture ministry, who also chairs the local veterinary association, says the government will move quickly to stem the possible spread of the virus.

"We know very well that, in fact, they don't only have the capacity and the capability⁷ to handle the situation, but they have been doing it so wonderfully well," he said.  "And we are sure that, even this, I will say 'escape' of a case coming up in Kano, if it had not already been done, very soon will be completely taken care of."

Six sub-Saharan African countries have reported the virus since it was first detected in Nigeria last February. So far, no human cases have been reported among Nigeria's estimated population of 130 million.

More than 450,000 birds have been killed as part of preventive measures.

1 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

2 unwilling   

adj.不情愿的

参考例句：

• The natives were unwilling to be bent by colonial power.土著居民不愿受殖民势力的摆布。
• His tightfisted employer was unwilling to give him a raise.他那吝啬的雇主不肯给他加薪。

3 resurgence   

n.再起，复活，再现

参考例句：

• A resurgence of his grief swept over Nim.悲痛又涌上了尼姆的心头。
• Police say drugs traffickers are behind the resurgence of violence.警方说毒贩是暴力活动重新抬头的罪魁祸首。

4 intensified   

v.（使）增强， （使）加剧( intensify的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Violence intensified during the night. 在夜间暴力活动加剧了。
• The drought has intensified. 旱情加剧了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 specialized   

adj.专门的，专业化的

参考例句：

• There are many specialized agencies in the United Nations.联合国有许多专门机构。
• These tools are very specialized.这些是专用工具。

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 capability   

n.能力；才能；(pl)可发展的能力或特性等

参考例句：

• She has the capability to become a very fine actress.她有潜力成为杰出演员。
• Organizing a whole department is beyond his capability.组织整个部门是他能力以外的事。