New York State declares public ehalth emergency over flu epidemic

 　　NEW YORK, Jan. 12 (Xinhua) -- Governor Andrew Cuomo on Saturday declared a state of public health emergency for all of New York State, in response to this year's increasingly severe flu season.

　　As of Saturday, a total of 19,128 cases of influenza¹ have been reported in New York State for this season, far more than the 4, 404 cases that were reported in all of last season.

　　Also, the New York State Department of Health (DOH) received reports of 2,884 patients hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed influenza by Jan.5, compared with 1,169 in total cases of hospitalization in 2011.

　　"We are experiencing the worst flu season since at least 2009, and influenza activity in New York State is widespread, with cases reported in all 57 counties and all five boroughs² of New York City, " Governor Cuomo said in a news release.

　　"Therefore, I have directed my Administration, the State Health Department and others to marshal all needed resources to address this public health emergency and remove all barriers to ensure that all New Yorkers - children and adults alike - have access to critically needed flu vaccines³."While urging New Yorkers who have yet to receive a flu shot to schedule one immediately, Cuomo also announced that the state DOH would launch a broad promotion⁴ of flu immunization by working closely with county, regional and private health care partners as well as local health departments, in a bid to ensure all New Yorkers know the importance of - and have easy access to - flu shots.

　　To date, 20 children across the United States, including two in New York State, have died as a result of the outbreak of the seasonal⁵ influenza this year.

1 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。

2 boroughs   

（尤指大伦敦的）行政区( borough的名词复数 )； 议会中有代表的市镇

参考例句：

• London is made up of 32 boroughs. 伦敦由三十二个行政区组成。
• Brooklyn is one of the five boroughs of New York City. 布鲁克林区是纽约市的五个行政区之一。

3 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。

4 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

5 seasonal   

adj.季节的，季节性的

参考例句：

• The town relies on the seasonal tourist industry for jobs.这个城镇依靠季节性旅游业提供就业机会。
• The hors d'oeuvre is seasonal vegetables.餐前小吃是应时蔬菜。