VOA标准英语2009年-Thailand Puts Flu Cooperation on ASEAN For

Thailand plans to call for stepped up cooperation from regional governments to contain the spread of the H1N1 flu. The Thai government will present the issue at an annual gathering¹ of foreign ministers from Southeast Asia and the region's main partners.
　
Filipino family wears protective masks against swine flu in East Avenue hospital compound in Quezon City, Philippines, 22 Jun 2009

The Thai government says it wants Asian governments to collectively buy anti-viral medications to ensure lower cost and wider distribution.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva will have the idea put on the table at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations regional forum², which will be held next week on the Thai island of Phuket.

Buranaj Samuttarak is the spokesman for Mr. Abhisit's Democrat³ Party.

"It is clearly a common challenge that needs to be addressed on a global level," Buranaj said. "And one thing Mr. Abhisit has been very keen on addressing is to try to find avenues of collective action. For example, in trying to ensure that vaccines⁴ are provided and access if guaranteed as well as access to antiviral medication."

But Buranaj says a key challenge appears to be ensuring the spread of the H1N1 flu is contained. Another issue is avoiding the overuse of medications that could make the virus more drug resistant⁵.

The call for broader cooperation comes as the Thai government this week approved a $25-million budget for vaccines and anti-viral drugs to fight H1N1 virus. At least 25 people in Thailand have died of the virus, and more than 4,000 cases have been reported here.

The virus, also known as swine flu, was first identified in Mexico earlier this year and has since spread around the world. The World Health Organization reports there have been about 100,000 confirmed cases, with around 500 deaths, but experts say there have probably have been tens of thousands of other cases.

The Thai government has closed schools and other facilities in Bangkok to try to slow the spread of the virus.

The ASEAN Regional Forum draws together the foreign ministers of the 10 ASEAN states, as well as those from countries such as Australia, China, India and the United States.

 

1 gathering   

n.集会，聚会，聚集

参考例句：

• He called on Mr. White to speak at the gathering.他请怀特先生在集会上讲话。
• He is on the wing gathering material for his novels.他正忙于为他的小说收集资料。

2 forum   

n.论坛，讨论会

参考例句：

• They're holding a forum on new ways of teaching history.他们正在举行历史教学讨论会。
• The organisation would provide a forum where problems could be discussed.这个组织将提供一个可以讨论问题的平台。

3 democrat   

n.民主主义者，民主人士；民主党党员

参考例句：

• The Democrat and the Public criticized each other.民主党人和共和党人互相攻击。
• About two years later,he was defeated by Democrat Jimmy Carter.大约两年后，他被民主党人杰米卡特击败。

4 vaccines   

疫苗，痘苗( vaccine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His team are at the forefront of scientific research into vaccines. 他的小组处于疫苗科研的最前沿。
• The vaccines were kept cool in refrigerators. 疫苗放在冰箱中冷藏。

5 resistant   

adj.(to)抵抗的，有抵抗力的

参考例句：

• Many pests are resistant to the insecticide.许多害虫对这种杀虫剂有抵抗力。
• They imposed their government by force on the resistant population.他们以武力把自己的统治强加在持反抗态度的人民头上。