VOA标准英语10月-Nigeria Says Cholera Outbreaks Under Control

The Nigerian health ministry¹ has blamed poor sanitation² and shortage of safe drinking water for the deadly outbreaks of cholera³ and gastroenteritis in parts of northern Nigeria. A senior official announced Friday that the crisis is now under control. Gilbert da Costa in Abuja has this report for VOA.

United Nations agencies are helping⁴ Nigerian authorities to deal with a virulent⁵ diarrhea outbreak in northern Nigeria, where only a limited number of the population has access to access to safe drinking water.

According to the federal ministry of health, thousands of cases of cholera and gastroenteritis have been identified in at least five states, with a few cases also reported in at least three others.

A senior director of the federal ministry of health, Dr. Abdul Nasidi, says measures adopted to halt the spread of the diseases are now yielding positive results. He says the situation has been brought under control by local health authorities and medical teams sent to the areas.

"We confirmed cholera in one of the local governments in Sokoto, but the others are being investigated. It is controlled already," said Dr. Nasidi. "The states did very well, and we dispatched our own teams from the federal. Everything is under control. We also worked with some partners; WHO."

Authorities confirmed the death of more than 200 people from the outbreaks in the past four weeks, making it the worst in several years.

Cholera is an intestinal⁶ bacteria that causes serious diarrhea and vomiting⁷ leading to dehydration⁸. With a short incubation, it can be fatal if not treated in time. Gastroenteritis shares the same characteristics.

Treating drinking water with chlorine and improving hygiene⁹ conditions can prevent the diseases.

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 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。

3 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。

4 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

5 virulent   

adj.有毒的，有恶意的，充满敌意的

参考例句：

• She is very virulent about her former employer.她对她过去的老板恨之入骨。
• I stood up for her despite the virulent criticism.尽管她遭到恶毒的批评，我还是维护她。

6 intestinal   

adj.肠的；肠壁；肠道细菌

参考例句：

• A few other conditions are in high intestinal obstruction. 其它少数情况是高位肠梗阻。 来自辞典例句
• This complication has occasionally occurred following the use of intestinal antiseptics. 这种并发症偶而发生在使用肠道抗菌剂上。 来自辞典例句

7 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。”

8 dehydration   

n.脱水，干燥

参考例句：

• He died from severe dehydration.他死于严重脱水。
• The eyes are often retracted from dehydration.眼睛常因脱水而凹陷。

9 hygiene   

n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic）

参考例句：

• Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
• He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。