WHO: Malaria Deaths Drop 20 Percent Since 2000

 　　The World Health Organization reports that deaths from malaria¹ around the world have dropped more than 20 percent since 2000.

　　The U.N. agency says deaths dropped from 985,000 in 2000 to about 780,000 in 2009.  Most deaths occur among children living in Africa.

　　The WHO released the latest figures Tuesday in its World Malaria Report 2010.

　　The annual number of malaria cases dropped slightly over the last decade, from 233 million to 225 million.

　　The report attributed the declines to disease prevention and control measures.

　　Although malaria is preventable and curable, the WHO says a child dies of the disease in Africa every 45 seconds, accounting² for nearly 20 percent of all childhood deaths.

　　Malaria is caused by parasites³ that are transmitted to people by infected mosquitoes.

　　The disease initially⁴ causes mild symptoms including fever, headache, chills and vomiting⁵.  If not treated within 24 hours, it can cause more severe symptoms such as severe anemia⁶ and respiratory distress⁷, which may lead to death.

1 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。

2 accounting   

n.会计，会计学，借贷对照表

参考例句：

• A job fell vacant in the accounting department.财会部出现了一个空缺。
• There's an accounting error in this entry.这笔账目里有差错。

3 parasites   

寄生物( parasite的名词复数 )； 靠他人为生的人； 诸虫

参考例句：

• These symptoms may be referable to virus infection rather than parasites. 这些症状也许是由病毒感染引起的，而与寄生虫无关。
• Kangaroos harbor a vast range of parasites. 袋鼠身上有各种各样的寄生虫。

4 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。

5 vomiting   

吐

参考例句：

• Symptoms include diarrhoea and vomiting. 症状有腹泻和呕吐。
• Especially when I feel seasick, I can't stand watching someone else vomiting." 尤其晕船的时候，看不得人家呕。”

6 anemia   

n.贫血，贫血症

参考例句：

• The doctors analyzed the blood sample for anemia. 医生们分析了贫血的血样。
• I was put on iron tablets for my anemia.我曾因贫血吃补铁药片。

7 distress   

n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛

参考例句：

• Nothing could alleviate his distress.什么都不能减轻他的痛苦。
• Please don't distress yourself.请你不要忧愁了。