VOA标准英语2014--WHO: Ebola Cases Will Top 9,000 Soon

 

WHO: Ebola Cases Will Top 9,000 Soon

The World Health Organization reported the number of cases in the West Africa Ebola outbreak will top nine-thousand this week. As of October 14, there have been 8,914 Ebola cases and 4,447 deaths have been reported to the agency.

The WHO gave an update on the crisis on Tuesday. The briefing was given by Dr. Bruce Aylward, WHO Assistant Director-General in charge of the operational response to the Ebola outbreak. He said that 95-percent of the cases are reported in 19 of the 67 districts, counties or prefectures in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone -- a figure that’s held fairly steady for the past month.

“If we look at the reported number of cases over the last four weeks and we take seven day blocks for which we have full data, it’s been running about a thousand cases a week now for about three to four weeks. A couple of people have looked at that and said, well, what’s going on? Is the epidemic¹ slowing down or are we not seeing the exponential growth? And quite frankly² it’s too early to say. Because as most of you know these numbers go up and down. The lab sometimes can’t keep up with the amount of specimens³ they’re getting,” he said.

Another reason is health officials may be overwhelmed by the paperwork involved in tracking the epidemic. Dr. Aylward said there are some positive trends.

“One is a slowing down of the rate of new cases in some areas in what’s been the historic epicenter – Lofa County, Liberia. In both Kenema and Kailahun it’s been slowing down over the last couple of weeks, as well. Now, as some of you also know though, in Gueckedou, right across the border, we’ve seen the disease go up and down as well. But as we talk to our teams on the ground – there are teams from other organizations – there’s a lot of information that suggests that this is the result of real change in the behavior or the approach of communities most often.”

That behavior change includes a large increase in the number of safe burials. However, the WHO official has a warning for those who may say there are now just a few cases in those areas.

“Well, that’s like saying you’re only a little bit pregnant, you know. This is Ebola. This is a horrible, unforgiving disease. You’ve got to get to zero.”

To stop Ebola, he said, you need thorough tracing of those who may have been in contact with Ebola victims, same day isolation⁴, among other things.

Aylward said that after visiting the region recently he also saw some disturbing trends. One is that the disease is expanding geographically⁶.

“It’s important looking at a map where they’re coming up because they’re on the border areas, as well. With Cote d’Ivoire, in particular, we’re seeing some additional areas reporting cases that we hadn’t. So, that’s concerning – just that geographic⁵ expansion,” he said.

He’s also concerned about the number of cases in the capital cities. Recent figures are relatively⁷ flat, but it’s not clear whether that means control efforts are working.

“Any sense that the great effort that’s been kicked off over the last couple of months is already starting to see an impact – that would be really, really premature⁸.”

Aylward said every district in the three worst affected⁹ countries must have full control over burials, casement¹⁰ management and behavior change. That’s not the case yet. He also said there is still a lack – of what he calls – real crisis management.

“It’s tough in crises because, as you know, it’s one thing if you’re running a military and have a command and control structure – it’s another thing when you’re running an awful lot of partners that are funded different ways. They have different accountabilities, et cetera, and you have to get them to common purpose. But there are things that can be done. Every country has got an emergency operating center or something to that effect. Often it’s a meeting. Everybody gets around the table and says what they’re doing. And you know what? I don’t care. What I care about is: here’s what has to be done – is someone doing all of those and does this all fit on the critical path that gets you to zero?”

The U.N. Mission for Ebola Emergency response, UNMEER, recently unveiled a strategy to reverse the upward trend in Ebola cases. It’s called the 70-70-60 plan. The aim is to have the training, treatment and logistics in place  so there can be 70-percent safe burials and 70-percent of suspected cases isolated¹¹ in 60-days. He admitted, however, that will be a difficult target to reach.

The WHO assistant director-general said while there is plenty of bleak¹² news, there are some bright spots, including the ramping-up of the international response. 

1 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。

2 frankly   

adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说

参考例句：

• To speak frankly, I don't like the idea at all.老实说，我一点也不赞成这个主意。
• Frankly speaking, I'm not opposed to reform.坦率地说，我不反对改革。

3 specimens   

n.样品( specimen的名词复数 )；范例；（化验的）抽样；某种类型的人

参考例句：

• Astronauts have brought back specimens of rock from the moon. 宇航员从月球带回了岩石标本。
• The traveler brought back some specimens of the rocks from the mountains. 那位旅行者从山上带回了一些岩石标本。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 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。

5 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

6 geographically   

adv.地理学上，在地理上，地理方面

参考例句：

• Geographically, the UK is on the periphery of Europe. 从地理位置上讲，英国处于欧洲边缘。 来自辞典例句
• All these events, however geographically remote, urgently affected Western financial centers. 所有这些事件，无论发生在地理上如何遥远的地方，都对西方金融中心产生紧迫的影响。 来自名作英译部分

7 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

8 premature   

adj.比预期时间早的；不成熟的，仓促的

参考例句：

• It is yet premature to predict the possible outcome of the dialogue.预言这次对话可能有什么结果为时尚早。
• The premature baby is doing well.那个早产的婴儿很健康。

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。

10 casement   

n.竖铰链窗；窗扉

参考例句：

• A casement is a window that opens by means of hinges at the side.竖铰链窗是一种用边上的铰链开启的窗户。
• With the casement half open,a cold breeze rushed inside.窗扉半开，凉风袭来。

11 isolated   

adj.与世隔绝的

参考例句：

• His bad behaviour was just an isolated incident. 他的不良行为只是个别事件。
• Patients with the disease should be isolated. 这种病的患者应予以隔离。

12 bleak   

adj.(天气)阴冷的；凄凉的；暗淡的

参考例句：

• They showed me into a bleak waiting room.他们引我来到一间阴冷的会客室。
• The company's prospects look pretty bleak.这家公司的前景异常暗淡。