VOA标准英语2010年-Experts: Too Many People Are Ignorant

A patient lies in a bed in an isolation¹ ward² at the multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis³ clinic in Lesotho in southern Africa

Tuberculosis is one of the most common infectious diseases in developing countries, according the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.  It infects nearly 10 million people each year and kills nearly two million. The World Health Organization aims to eradicate⁴ the disease by the year 2015.

One thing health experts agree on is that TB can be defeated. Dr. Lee Reichman founded the Global Tuberculosis Institute at the New Jersey⁵ Medical School, and he says, "TB is treatable and preventable."

When people with infectious TB cough, sneeze or even talk, they propel TB bacteria into the air.  An uninfected person can catch tuberculosis from inhaling⁶ a small amount of the germs. "TB spreads wherever people are close together and they share air for a considerable length of time," says Reichman.

 

In rich and poor countries alike, it is a disease that is stigmatized⁸. TB often co-exists with HIV/AIDS.  The problem is, in poor countries, getting treatment for TB can be difficult. There are too few clinics and getting to them is often a test of endurance.

South African TV personality Gerry Elsdon is her country's ambassador for TB as well as a spokesperson for the International Federation⁹ of the Red Cross.  Nine years ago, Elsdon discovered she had non-infectious TB.  She says the initial reaction from friends and viewers was compassion¹⁰.

"What came afterwards was the big surprise," says Elsdon.  "I thought I was doing a great service and duty to so many South Africans, who perhaps have not been able to have a voice because they had TB, that have been silent and hidden because of their TB status.  And initially¹¹, I experienced a little bit of discrimination."

Elsdon is working to remove the stigma⁷ from TB.  "This illness knows no borders," she says.  "It does not discriminate¹². It knows no creed¹³ and it certainly is not a disease of the poor."

Medical experts and activists¹⁴ alike say the solution lies in education ... educating governments, rich and poor, educating citizens to control the spread of infection. If that isn't done, experts say, we will face more deadly strains of TB and it could become a pandemic.

 

1 isolation   

n.隔离，孤立，分解，分离

参考例句：

• The millionaire lived in complete isolation from the outside world.这位富翁过着与世隔绝的生活。
• He retired and lived in relative isolation.他退休后，生活比较孤寂。

2 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

3 tuberculosis   

n.结核病，肺结核

参考例句：

• People used to go to special health spring to recover from tuberculosis.人们常去温泉疗养胜地治疗肺结核。
• Tuberculosis is a curable disease.肺结核是一种可治愈的病。

4 eradicate   

v.根除，消灭，杜绝

参考例句：

• These insects are very difficult to eradicate.这些昆虫很难根除。
• They are already battling to eradicate illnesses such as malaria and tetanus.他们已经在努力消灭疟疾、破伤风等疾病。

5 jersey   

n.运动衫

参考例句：

• He wears a cotton jersey when he plays football.他穿运动衫踢足球。
• They were dressed alike in blue jersey and knickers.他们穿着一致，都是蓝色的运动衫和灯笼短裤。

6 inhaling   

v.吸入( inhale的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• He was treated for the effects of inhaling smoke. 他因吸入烟尘而接受治疗。 来自辞典例句
• The long-term effects of inhaling contaminated air is unknown. 长期吸入被污染空气的影响还无从知晓。 来自互联网

7 stigma   

n.耻辱，污名；(花的)柱头

参考例句：

• Being an unmarried mother used to carry a social stigma.做未婚母亲在社会上曾是不光彩的事。
• The stigma of losing weighed heavily on the team.失败的耻辱让整个队伍压力沉重。

8 stigmatized   

v.使受耻辱，指责，污辱( stigmatize的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• He was stigmatized as an ex-convict. 他遭人污辱，说他给判过刑。 来自辞典例句
• Such a view has been stigmatized as mechanical jurisprudence. 蔑称这种观点为机械法学。 来自辞典例句

9 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

10 compassion   

n.同情，怜悯

参考例句：

• He could not help having compassion for the poor creature.他情不自禁地怜悯起那个可怜的人来。
• Her heart was filled with compassion for the motherless children.她对于没有母亲的孩子们充满了怜悯心。

11 initially   

adv.最初，开始

参考例句：

• The ban was initially opposed by the US.这一禁令首先遭到美国的反对。
• Feathers initially developed from insect scales.羽毛最初由昆虫的翅瓣演化而来。

12 discriminate   

v.区别，辨别，区分；有区别地对待

参考例句：

• You must learn to discriminate between facts and opinions.你必须学会把事实和看法区分出来。
• They can discriminate hundreds of colours.他们能分辨上百种颜色。

13 creed   

n.信条；信念，纲领

参考例句：

• They offended against every article of his creed.他们触犯了他的每一条戒律。
• Our creed has always been that business is business.我们的信条一直是公私分明。

14 activists   

n.（政治活动的）积极分子，活动家( activist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• His research work was attacked by animal rights activists . 他的研究受到了动物权益维护者的抨击。
• Party activists with lower middle class pedigrees are numerous. 党的激进分子中有很多出身于中产阶级下层。 来自《简明英汉词典》