VOA标准英语10月-WHO Launches Campaign to Contain Cholera in Guine

The World Health Organization and the United Nations Children's Fund are launching an emergency appeal for $1.6 million to try to contain a cholera¹ epidemic² in Guinea-Bissau, which has affected³ more than 12,000 people and killed more than 200. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from Geneva.

Guinea Bissau was hit by cholera in May. Six months later, the epidemic shows no signs of abating⁴. And, UN aid agencies are worried. So far the disease has claimed at least 200 lives. But the World Health Organization says it expects the death toll⁵ to rise.

WHO Spokeswoman, Fadela Chaib, tells VOA every day there are an average of 140 new cases of cholera. She says concerns are rising because the epidemic is far from being contained.

"The problem is we fear that if this cholera epidemic is not put under control, more people will be affected and we will see more deaths," said Chaib. "Usually cholera is not a deadly disease. We can really recover from it. So, it is unfortunate that people will die from it while we know how to prevent it and how to treat the cases."

West Africa is regularly affected by cholera outbreaks. Guinea Bissau's last major epidemic was in 2005. Judging from that experience, Chaib says the current epidemic might last for at least another three months with a peak by November.

She says cholera has spread to all of the country's 11 provinces, putting practically everyone at risk.

"It touches everybody because of the very weak water and sanitation⁶ infrastructure⁷ in the country," said Chaib. "For example, in the capital Bissau, only 25 percent of the population has access to take public water while the rest rely on heavily contaminated traditional wells and surface water. So, the infrastructure is bad and for the time being the outbreak is not controlled, despite efforts from the country and the UN agencies and the NGO's."

The joint⁸ WHO-UNICEF appeal will be used to support the national cholera response. Chaib says the agencies are planning to take appropriate public health actions to try and stop the epidemic, including intensive information and health education campaigns.

She says it is important that people understand that good hygiene⁹ is essential in preventing the spread of cholera. She says a simple action such as washing hands can save lives.

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 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。

3 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。

4 abating   

减少( abate的现在分词 )； 减去； 降价； 撤消（诉讼）

参考例句：

• The storm showed no signs of abating. 暴风雨没有减弱的迹象。
• The recent public anxiety about this issue may now be abating. 近来公众对这个问题的焦虑心情现在也许正在缓和下来。

5 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。

6 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。

7 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。

8 joint   

adj.联合的，共同的；n.关节，接合处；v.连接，贴合

参考例句：

• I had a bad fall,which put my shoulder out of joint.我重重地摔了一跤，肩膀脫臼了。
• We wrote a letter in joint names.我们联名写了封信。

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。