New Test for West Nile Virus

by Jill Moss¹

Broadcast: July 23, 2003
This is Bill White with the VOA Special English Health Report.
A medical company in Australia, PanBio, has developed a new test for West Nile 1)virus. The test examines blood for what are called IgM 2)antibodies. These are commonly found within the first few days of infection. Health officials say a second laboratory test is needed to confirm the results if the antibodies are discovered. Antibodies are proteins that the body produces to fight infection.
Earlier this month, the Food and Drug Administration in Washington approved the test for use in the United States. The agency based its decision on a study of one-thousand patients. Researchers found that the PanBio test correctly identified IgM antibodies in up to ninety-nine percent of patients.
Similar studies are also being done in Canada. The government there is expected to approve the test in the coming weeks. Carl Stubbings is senior vice² president of PanBio's offices in the United States. He says the company has also organized a study at a hospital in Israel. And, he says future research is possible in France and Germany.
West Nile virus started in Uganda in nineteen-thirty-seven. Populations in northern Africa have since developed resistance to the infection. However, this is not the case in North America and other parts of the world.
The first cases of West Nile virus appeared in the United States in nineteen-ninety-nine. Last year more than four-thousand cases were reported in the country. More than two-hundred-eighty people died. Mexico, southern Europe and Canada are also dealing³ with the virus. And it has become a concern in Central America.
West Nile virus spreads to humans through 3)mosquito bites. The insects become infected when they feed on birds or other animals that carry the disease. Most people do not get sick from the virus. But children and adults over the age of fifty may develop serious problems. Signs of West Nile virus include head and body pain and fever. Severe cases can lead to 4)coma⁴ or death.
PanBio's new test for the disease takes about two hours. This is a huge reduction in the amount of time needed to identify an infected patient. Currently⁵, tests for the disease usually take about two days to 5)administer⁶. Results can take up to two weeks.
This VOA Special English Health Report was written by Jill Moss. And this is Bill White.

注释：
1) virus [5vaiErEs] n.（微）病毒, 滤过性微生物
2) antibody [5Anti7bCdi] n.抗体
3) mosquito [mEs5ki:tEu] n.蚊子
4) coma [5kEumE] n.昏迷
5) administer [Ed5ministE] v.支配，给予

1 moss   

n.苔，藓，地衣

参考例句：

• Moss grows on a rock.苔藓生在石头上。
• He was found asleep on a pillow of leaves and moss.有人看见他枕着树叶和苔藓睡着了。

2 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

3 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。

4 coma   

n.昏迷，昏迷状态

参考例句：

• The patient rallied from the coma.病人从昏迷中苏醒过来。
• She went into a coma after swallowing a whole bottle of sleeping pills.她吃了一整瓶安眠药后就昏迷过去了。

5 currently   

adv.通常地，普遍地，当前

参考例句：

• Currently it is not possible to reconcile this conflicting evidence.当前还未有可能去解释这一矛盾的例证。
• Our contracts are currently under review.我们的合同正在复查。

6 administer   

v.施行，实施，掌管，料理···的事务，给予

参考例句：

• It takes brains to administer upon a large corporation.管理一家大公司需要智慧。
• They had the right to administer their own internal affairs.他们有权料理自己的事务。