VOA常速英语2008年-WHO Warns Climate Change Endangers Human Health

By Lisa Schlein
Paris
07 April 2008

The World Health Organization says climate change endangers human health and developing countries will be most at risk from the increasing spread of disease. The organization is marking World Health Day with a global call to action to help countries adapt to changing climate and reduce its negative health effects. Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from WHO headquarters in Geneva.

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan provides a nightmarish scenario¹ of the future under climate change. She notes more frequent drought will threaten food security. This will increase malnutrition², which already is responsible for 3.5 million deaths a year.

She says extreme weather events such as storms and floods will spread cholera³, typhoid, diarrhea and other deadly diseases. Heat waves in urban areas will increase disability and death, mainly in elderly people.

Dr. Chan says vulnerable people in developing countries will be the first and the hardest hit from climate change.

"For example, just 12 years from now in 2020, crop yields in parts of Africa are expected to drop by half. As another example, women and young girls in parts of Asia currently spend from six to nine hours collecting water. Climate change is adding an additional set of stresses in areas that are already fragile with marginal livelihoods⁴ and thin margins⁵ of survival."

The World Health Organization says climate change will bring positive and negative health impacts. It says the affects will depend on a country's location and other factors such as rainfall, humidity, and temperature. But, it says the overwhelming impact on health will be negative.

WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Security and Environment David Heymann says changing temperatures and patterns of rainfall are expected to alter the geographical⁶ distribution of insect vectors that spread infectious diseases. He says malaria⁷ and dengue are among the greatest public health concerns.

"Not only do these diseases occur, they then can get on airplanes or on ships and go to other parts of the world where the conditions are ripe for these diseases, where they have not been previously⁸, but will begin transmission ... This is not itself due to climate change," he said. "But, this shows you that when climate changes do occur in one part of the world, the whole world will be at risk of climate change because of our globalized society."

The World Health Organization says people in rich countries also will be affected⁹ by climate change. But, it notes the wealthier countries have better means to deal with the health risks than do the poorer countries.

The World Health Organization says preventive actions are needed to respond to the increased health threats. It says it is very important to establish early warning systems and to help nations strengthen their health systems.

1 scenario   

n.剧本，脚本；概要

参考例句：

• But the birth scenario is not completely accurate.然而分娩脚本并非完全准确的。
• This is a totally different scenario.这是完全不同的剧本。

2 malnutrition   

n.营养不良

参考例句：

• In Africa, there are a lot of children suffering from severe malnutrition.在非洲有大批严重营养不良的孩子。
• It is a classic case of malnutrition. 这是营养不良的典型病例。

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 livelihoods   

生计，谋生之道( livelihood的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• First came the earliest individualistic pioneers who depended on hunting and fishing for their livelihoods. 走在最前面的是早期的个人主义先驱者，他们靠狩猎捕鱼为生。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件
• With little influence over policies, their traditional livelihoods are threatened. 因为马赛族人对政策的影响力太小，他们的传统生计受到了威胁。

5 margins   

边( margin的名词复数 )； 利润； 页边空白； 差数

参考例句：

• They have always had to make do with relatively small profit margins. 他们不得不经常设法应付较少的利润额。
• To create more space between the navigation items, add left and right margins to the links. 在每个项目间留更多的空隙，加左或者右的margins来定义链接。

6 geographical   

adj.地理的；地区(性)的

参考例句：

• The current survey will have a wider geographical spread.当前的调查将在更广泛的地域范围內进行。
• These birds have a wide geographical distribution.这些鸟的地理分布很广。

7 malaria   

n.疟疾

参考例句：

• He had frequent attacks of malaria.他常患疟疾。
• Malaria is a kind of serious malady.疟疾是一种严重的疾病。

8 previously   

adv.以前，先前（地）

参考例句：

• The bicycle tyre blew out at a previously damaged point.自行车胎在以前损坏过的地方又爆开了。
• Let me digress for a moment and explain what had happened previously.让我岔开一会儿，解释原先发生了什么。

9 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。