voa标准英语2008-Cholera Epidemic in Zimbabwe Continues to Worsen

U.N. aid agencies said they are facing enormous difficulties in efforts to contain the deadly cholera¹ epidemic² that has affected³ thousands of people in Zimbabwe. They said the health system in the country has collapsed⁴ and even the most basic supplies are missing.

U.N. and other aid agencies have been working to contain the spread of the cholera outbreak since well before the government declared a national emergency this week. U.N. officials said the situation could hardly be worse. The needs are huge and operations to make things better will be very costly⁵.
　

Children collect water from a well in Harare, Zimbabwe, 05 Dec 2008

United Nations figures put the number of suspected cholera deaths at more than 500 and the number of confirmed cases at more than 12,000. A Spokeswoman for the World Health Organization, Fadela Chaib, said those most at risk of getting ill and dying are women and children, people who are malnourished and have little access to good water and sanitation⁶.

"The health infrastructure⁷ in the country is very weak. And, people who are going to get treatment in health centers are likely not to get the treatment they need because of lack of health workers and lack of supplies and medicines," she said.

The World Health Organization notes the fatality⁸ rate of more than four percent is extremely high and remains⁹ a serious concern. The epidemic is affecting nine of Zimbabwe's 10 provinces. The capital city, Harari, is worst hit.

But, aid workers acknowledge little information is available about the course of the epidemic outside of the country's three largest cities. They worry that cholera may be more extensive than what is now known.

Spokeswoman for the U.N.'s Organization for the Coordination¹⁰ of Humanitarian¹¹ Assistance, Elizabeth Byrs, said U.N. and private aid agencies are redoubling their efforts to combat this disease. But, she said they are hampered¹² by shortages of practically everything.

She said the country lacks fuel. It has huge logistical problems. It lacks technical staff to treat people and volunteers to spread the hygiene¹³ message to the population. She said even the most basic supplies, such as dishes, cups and spoons are missing in hospitals and clinics.

The cost of combating this epidemic is likely to be huge. For example, the U.N. Children's Fund said the agency spent $5 million just last week to provide clean water to people.

UNICEF anticipates it will need a great deal more money to carry out its humanitarian operation. But it is concerned that it might not get the needed resources. It said so far it has received nothing in response to a $9 million appeal it recently launched for emergency activities in Zimbabwe.

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 collapsed   

adj.倒塌的

参考例句：

• Jack collapsed in agony on the floor. 杰克十分痛苦地瘫倒在地板上。
• The roof collapsed under the weight of snow. 房顶在雪的重压下突然坍塌下来。

5 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

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 fatality   

n.不幸，灾祸，天命

参考例句：

• She struggle against fatality in vain.她徒然奋斗反抗宿命。
• He began to have a growing sense of fatality.他开始有一种越来越强烈的宿命感。

9 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

10 coordination   

n.协调，协作

参考例句：

• Gymnastics is a sport that requires a considerable level of coordination.体操是一项需要高协调性的运动。
• The perfect coordination of the dancers and singers added a rhythmic charm to the performance.舞蹈演员和歌手们配合得很好，使演出更具魅力。

11 humanitarian   

n.人道主义者，博爱者，基督凡人论者

参考例句：

• She has many humanitarian interests and contributes a lot to them.她拥有很多慈善事业，并作了很大的贡献。
• The British government has now suspended humanitarian aid to the area.英国政府现已暂停对这一地区的人道主义援助。

12 hampered   

妨碍，束缚，限制( hamper的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• The search was hampered by appalling weather conditions. 恶劣的天气妨碍了搜寻工作。
• So thought every harassed, hampered, respectable boy in St. Petersburg. 圣彼德堡镇的那些受折磨、受拘束的体面孩子们个个都是这么想的。

13 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。