Dengue and Other Mosquito-Borne Diseases Continue to Plague

 

Kurt Achin

It is rainy season in Southeast Asia, and the region is facing its annual battle with dengue fever and other mosquito-borne diseases. The World Health Organization says such diseases are a leading cause of hospitalization in several Asian nations including Thailand and Philippines.

In Hong Kong, as in other Southeast Asian cities, summer heat and monsoon¹ rains create a sharp spike² in the risk of dengue fever also known simply as dengue.

In its milder forms, the disease causes acute flu-like symptoms, including high temperatures, severe headaches, rash and muscle pain. The more severe form, known as dengue haemorrhagic fever, can be fatal, particularly in children. Both forms of the disease can be successfully treated.

Dengue is caused by any of four related viruses, meaning a person can theoretically be infected four separate times in a lifetime. Repeated infections may increase the chance of contracting the fatal form of the disease.

The World Health Organization or WHO says the number of countries that have experience dengue academics has grown dramatically in the last three decades from just 9 in 1970 to more than 100 at present. About 2.5 billion people in the Americas, the Asia-Pacific region, Africa, and the Eastern Mediterranean³ are at risk of infection.

Hong Kong health officials say last year was the first year a dengue outbreak was traced to local sources. Twenty locally-transmitted cases were detected in all, 17 of which were traced to a single construction site. Health officials however say it is still too early to conclude that the disease has become endemic to the territory.

Dr. Ho Yuk-yin, a consultant⁴ for Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene⁵ Department, says, up to now, most dengue fever has reached Hong Kong along with people who travel here. "For the last 10 years, or so, all the other cases are imported from our neighboring countries, particularly from Southeast Asian countries," he said.

Hong Kong authorities say none of the cases of dengue fever reported in Hong Kong so far this year can be traced to a local source. Instead, they have been imported from the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia and Sri Lanka.

 Dengue is transmitted from human to human by female mosquitoes, which draw in the virus that causes the disease while feeding on the blood of one person, and then passing the virus on when they bite another. The females can also recycle the disease by passing it on to new generations in their eggs.

The mosquito that most often carries dengue is called aedes albopictus, which is common in tropical areas. Dr. Hitoshi Oshitani, an Asia regional advisor⁶ for the WHO, says dengue spreads swiftly in places where lots of humans meet lots of aedes mosquitoes, meaning cities. "Many dengue cases are occurring in the urban or suburban⁷ areas," said Dr. Oshitani. "The rural environment is not optimal⁸ for the dengue spread."

Sparsely⁹ populated rural areas have plenty of mosquitoes, but the low density¹⁰ of humans lessens¹¹ the risk of transmission. In urban areas, with their high concentrations of humans, doctors say, the spread of dengue can be exponential.

Southeast Asia, with its juxtaposition¹² of high population densities¹³ and tropical climates, is a perfect environment for the spread of dengue. Dense¹⁴ urban clusters are interspersed¹⁶ with areas of lush tropical vegetation. Dr. Ho says breeding grounds for the mosquitoes can be found everywhere in the modern urban environment. "They can breed in empty lunch boxes, empty cans, the small containers containing less than 100 mils [milliliters] water," he explained. "They can survive and breed."

Hong Kong's government warns of this frequently in a campaign of public service announcements. "Change the water inside vases and containers of watered plants, and change them at least once a week."

The government monitors the mosquito population with a simple device called an "ovitrap," a suspended cylinder¹⁷ filled with a moist solution that is attractive to female mosquitoes. By counting the eggs that are laid in it, inspectors¹⁸ compile what they call an "ovitrap index" to track monthly changes in the mosquito population.

The authorities say keeping the mosquito population low is the best-known preventive measure against dengue. They scrutinize¹⁹ districts where index levels are high, especially construction sites, where hollow bamboo scaffolding collects summer rains.

Dr. Ho says keeping mosquitoes away from humans is good public health policy in general. "Dengue endemic areas, many of them, are also endemic for other mosquito-borne diseases, like malaria²⁰ and Japanese encephalitis," he noted²¹.

In the longer run, the World Health Organization is sounding an optimistic note about the fight against dengue. The organization says, if progress continues at its current rate, a vaccine²² could be available within several years.

Kurt Achin on VOA news, Hong Kong.

注释：
dengue fever n. [医] 登革热（一种热带传染病，骨关节及肌肉奇痛）
mosquito-borne 由蚊子传播的
World Health Organization 简称WHO，世界卫生组织
hospitalization [7hCspitElai5zeiFEn] n. 住院治疗
predominantly [pri5dCmineitli] adv. 占统治地位地
urban [5E:bEn] adj. 城市的，市内的
container [kEn5teinE] n. 容器（箱、盆、罐等)
malaria [mE5lZEriE] n. 疟疾
parasitic²³ [7pArE5sitik] adj. 寄生的
vector-borne diseases传病媒介传播的
monsoon [mCn5su:n] n. 季风
sharp [FB:p] adv. 急速地
spike [spaik] v. 增强了……的效果
milder [5mildE] adj. 温和的
symptom [5simptEm] n. 症状
rash [rAF] n. 皮疹
muscle pain 肌肉痛
haemorrhagic feve［医］出血热
fatal [5feitl] adj. 致命的
theoretically [WiE5retikEli] adv. 理论上
Asia-Pacific region 亚太地区
Eastern Mediterranean 地中海中部
outbreak [5autbreik] n.（疾病的）发作
endemic [en5demik] adj. 地方病的
territory [5teritEri] n. 地域
consultant [kEn5sQltEnt] n. 顾问
Hong Kong's Food and Environmental Hygiene Department 香港食品和环境卫生署
Philippines [5filipi:nz] n. 菲律宾共和国
Thailand [5tailAnd] n. 泰国（亚洲国家）
Indonesia [7indEu5ni:zjE] n. 印尼（东南亚岛国）
Singapore [7siN^E5pC:] n. 新加坡（东南亚国家）
Malaysia [mE5leiFE] n. 马来群岛（位于东南亚）
Cambodia [kAm5bEudiE] n. 柬埔寨（东南亚国家）
Sri Lanka [sri5lANkE] n. 斯里兰卡（南亚岛国）
aedes albopictus 白纹伊蚊
tropical areas 热带地区
swiftly [swiftli] adv. 很快地，即刻
rural [5rJEr(E)l] adj. 乡下的，田园的
exponential [7ekspEu5nenFEl] adj. 迅速的，指数的，幂数的
juxtaposition [7dVQkstEpE5ziFEn] n. 同时，并列
density [5densiti] n. 密度
urban clusters 城市群
intersperse¹⁵ [7intE(:)5spE:s] vt. 散布
lush [lQF] adj. 繁茂的
vegetation [7vedVi5teiFEn] n.（总称）植物
lunch boxes 午餐盒
milliliter [5mIlIli:tE(r)] n. 千分之一公升，毫升
vase [vB:z] n. 瓶
cylinder [5silindE] n. 圆筒，圆柱体
ovitrap index 诱蚊产卵器指数
scrutinize [5skrutinaiz] n. 细察
construction sites 建筑工地
hollow bamboo 空心的竹子
scaffolding [5skAfEldIN] n. 抬架，支架
Japanese encephalitis 日本脑炎，乙型脑炎
vaccine [5vAksi:n] n. 疫苗

1 monsoon   

n.季雨，季风，大雨

参考例句：

• The monsoon rains started early this year.今年季雨降雨开始得早。
• The main climate type in that region is monsoon.那个地区主要以季风气候为主要气候类型。

2 spike   

n.长钉，钉鞋；v.以大钉钉牢，使...失效

参考例句：

• The spike pierced the receipts and held them in order.那个钉子穿过那些收据并使之按顺序排列。
• They'll do anything to spike the guns of the opposition.他们会使出各种手段来挫败对手。

3 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

4 consultant   

n.顾问；会诊医师，专科医生

参考例句：

• He is a consultant on law affairs to the mayor.他是市长的一个法律顾问。
• Originally,Gar had agreed to come up as a consultant.原来，加尔只答应来充当我们的顾问。

5 hygiene   

n.健康法，卫生学 （a.hygienic）

参考例句：

• Their course of study includes elementary hygiene and medical theory.他们的课程包括基础卫生学和医疗知识。
• He's going to give us a lecture on public hygiene.他要给我们作关于公共卫生方面的报告。

6 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

7 suburban   

adj.城郊的，在郊区的

参考例句：

• Suburban shopping centers were springing up all over America. 效区的商业中心在美国如雨后春笋般地兴起。
• There's a lot of good things about suburban living.郊区生活是有许多优点。

8 optimal   

adj.最适宜的；最理想的；最令人满意的

参考例句：

• What is the optimal mix of private and public property rights in natural resources?私人和国家的自然资源产权的最适宜的组合是什么？
• Optimal path planning is a key link for the sailing contest.帆船最优行驶路径规划是帆船比赛取胜的关键环节。

9 sparsely   

adv.稀疏地；稀少地；不足地；贫乏地

参考例句：

• Relative to the size, the city is sparsely populated. 与其面积相比，这个城市的人口是稀少的。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The ground was sparsely covered with grass. 地面上稀疏地覆盖草丛。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 density   

n.密集，密度，浓度

参考例句：

• The population density of that country is 685 per square mile.那个国家的人口密度为每平方英里685人。
• The region has a very high population density.该地区的人口密度很高。

11 lessens   

变少( lessen的第三人称单数 )； 减少（某事物）

参考例句：

• Eating a good diet significantly lessens the risk of heart disease. 良好的饮食习惯能大大减少患心脏病的机率。
• Alcohol lessens resistance to diseases. 含有酒精的饮料会减弱对疾病的抵抗力。

12 juxtaposition   

n.毗邻，并置，并列

参考例句：

• The juxtaposition of these two remarks was startling.这两句话连在一起使人听了震惊。
• It is the result of the juxtaposition of contrasting colors.这是并列对比色的结果。

13 densities   

密集( density的名词复数 )； 稠密； 密度（固体、液体或气体单位体积的质量）； 密度（磁盘存贮数据的可用空间）

参考例句：

• The range of densities of interest is about 3.5. 有用的密度范围为3．5左右。
• Densities presumably can be probed by radar. 利用雷达也许还能探测出气体的密度。

14 dense   

a.密集的，稠密的，浓密的；密度大的

参考例句：

• The general ambushed his troops in the dense woods. 将军把部队埋伏在浓密的树林里。
• The path was completely covered by the dense foliage. 小路被树叶厚厚地盖了一层。

15 intersperse   

vt.散布，散置，点缀

参考例句：

• Intersperse exclamation marks in the text.在文章中加进一些感叹号。
• You should intersperse colorful anecdotes about your experience with perceptive queries about the vacancy.讲述自己的经历时应该加入一些有声有色的轶事，中间巧妙穿插对所应聘职位的询问。

16 interspersed   

adj.[医]散开的；点缀的v.intersperse的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The grass was interspersed with beds of flowers. 草地上点缀着许多花坛。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

17 cylinder   

n.圆筒，柱(面)，汽缸

参考例句：

• What's the volume of this cylinder?这个圆筒的体积有多少？
• The cylinder is getting too much gas and not enough air.汽缸里汽油太多而空气不足。

18 inspectors   

n.检查员( inspector的名词复数 )；（英国公共汽车或火车上的）查票员；（警察）巡官；检阅官

参考例句：

• They got into the school in the guise of inspectors. 他们假装成视察员进了学校。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Inspectors checked that there was adequate ventilation. 检查员已检查过，通风良好。 来自《简明英汉词典》

19 scrutinize   

n.详细检查，细读

参考例句：

• Her purpose was to scrutinize his features to see if he was an honest man.她的目的是通过仔细观察他的相貌以判断他是否诚实。
• She leaned forward to scrutinize their faces.她探身向前，端详他们的面容。

20 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。

21 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

22 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

23 parasitic   

adj.寄生的

参考例句：

• Will global warming mean the spread of tropical parasitic diseases?全球变暖是否意味着热带寄生虫病会蔓延呢？
• By definition,this way of life is parasitic.从其含义来说，这是种寄生虫的生活方式。