VOA标准英语2010年-WHO Says H1N1 Swine Flu Pandemic Not O

The Director-General of the World Health Organization, Margaret Chan say the H1N1 Swine Flu Pandemic is not as serious as anticipated.  But, she says this is no time to relax, as the Pandemic is not over.  Chan spoke¹ at the opening of WHO's weeklong Executive Board meeting in Geneva.

World Health Organization Director-General Margaret Chan says when H1N1 appeared her agency was expecting an event similar the 1918 pandemic, which killed 50 million people. 

Instead she says what actually happened is probably closer to the much milder 1957 or 1968 pandemics.

"For me, the best health news of the previous decade is the fact that the long overdue² influenza³ pandemic has been so moderate in its impact ...  The virus did not mutate to a more virulent⁴ form. ...  The vaccine⁵ proved safe and a close match with circulating virus.  Things could have gone wrong in any of these areas," she said. 

Despite the good news, the World Health Organization, has found itself on the defensive⁶.  A number of governments have accused the health agency of exaggerating the severity of Swine Flu and of being in the pockets of the pharmaceutical⁷ industry.

But Dr. Chan says it is always better to err⁸ on the side of caution when dealing⁹ with public health issues. 

She says it is better to have a moderate pandemic with a large supply of vaccines¹⁰, rather than a severe pandemic with inadequate¹¹ supplies of vaccine.

"In some countries in the northern hemisphere with good surveillance systems, the pandemic appears to be easing.  The worst may be over," she said.  "But, it would be unwise for anybody to reach firm conclusions before April, when the normal influenza season usually ends.  There is still quite a lot of winter left," she added. 

Chan notes no one can predict what will happen later in the year when the southern hemisphere enters its influenza season and the virus spreads more rapidly throughout the population.

She says countries must remain vigilant¹² and people who have decided¹³ not to get vaccinated¹⁴ against H1N1 should rethink this decision.  She says H1N1 may be moderate, but it still kills.

 

1 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

2 overdue   

adj.过期的，到期未付的；早该有的，迟到的

参考例句：

• The plane is overdue and has been delayed by the bad weather.飞机晚点了，被坏天气耽搁了。
• The landlady is angry because the rent is overdue.女房东生气了，因为房租过期未付。

3 influenza   

n.流行性感冒，流感

参考例句：

• They took steps to prevent the spread of influenza.他们采取措施
• Influenza is an infectious disease.流感是一种传染病。

4 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。

5 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

6 defensive   

adj.防御的；防卫的；防守的

参考例句：

• Their questions about the money put her on the defensive.他们问到钱的问题，使她警觉起来。
• The Government hastily organized defensive measures against the raids.政府急忙布置了防卫措施抵御空袭。

7 pharmaceutical   

adj.药学的，药物的；药用的，药剂师的

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。
• We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

8 err   

vi.犯错误，出差错

参考例句：

• He did not err by a hair's breadth in his calculation.他的计算结果一丝不差。
• The arrows err not from their aim.箭无虚发。

9 dealing   

n.经商方法，待人态度

参考例句：

• This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
• His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。

10 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。

11 inadequate   

adj.(for,to)不充足的，不适当的

参考例句：

• The supply is inadequate to meet the demand.供不应求。
• She was inadequate to the demands that were made on her.她还无力满足对她提出的各项要求。

12 vigilant   

adj.警觉的，警戒的，警惕的

参考例句：

• He has to learn how to remain vigilant through these long nights.他得学会如何在这漫长的黑夜里保持警觉。
• The dog kept a vigilant guard over the house.这只狗警醒地守护着这所房屋。

13 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

14 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？