美国国家公共电台 NPR--U.S. monkeypox cases are increasing. How does it spread and how is it treated?

U.S. monkeypox cases are increasing. How does it spread and how is it treated?

Transcript¹

The World Health Organization has declared monkeypox a public health emergency. NPR's A Martinez talks to Dr. Ali Khan, a former CDC official, about the spread of the disease in the U.S.

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

In cities around the country, people are lining² up to get vaccinated³ against monkeypox. But there aren't enough shots to go around. And some wonder, is it truly a threat, or after living with the coronavirus for a couple of years, are we all just a bit jumpy? Joining us now to discuss this is Dr. Ali Khan, who spent much of his career at the CDC and handled monkeypox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and in Indiana. Doctor, how exactly is this virus spreading in the U.S. right now?

ALI KHAN: This new variant⁴ of the virus that's spreading in the U.S. is spread by intimate contact, especially sexual contact, and that's essentially⁵ PC for skin-to-skin contact of people who are infected, especially their lesions.

MART?NEZ: But are we also talking about handshakes, maybe just cuddling, kissing your kid at bedtime? I mean, is that included as well?

KHAN: Not at all. This isn't transmitted by casual contact. It really is transmitted by intimate contact - very intimate contact.

MART?NEZ: There are concerns and misconceptions that monkeypox is a sexually transmitted infection. Are you worried there's confusion out there?

KHAN: Yes, there is some confusion out there. So we should be clear that sexual contact counts as intimate contact, but we know that people who don't have sexual contact can be infected, including here in the United States, where we recently had two kids who have been infected. But 95% of infections are transmitted by sexual contact.

MART?NEZ: All right. Now, at the same time, the U.S. outbreak is concentrated among men who have sex with men. How focused should the response be, given that this group is by far the most at risk right now?

KHAN: Well, this does provide an opportunity for prevention activities within this group, and they've been very proactive in education and lining up for vaccination⁶. But there is the reminder⁷ that people who are not amongst this group are at risk. And we need to be concerned - not panicked, but concerned, and make sure that we do adequately prevent this infection from continuing to spread.

MART?NEZ: You know, yesterday I saw a tweet. You tweeted a quote from the CDC director, who said, it's been a struggle to get states to share demographic information about monkeypox cases. And there's no data on who's been vaccinated against monkeypox. And you added in that tweet, be scared, very scared. Fix this now. Doctor, as it specifically relates to monkeypox, why is this something to be scared about?

KHAN: Well, if you don't know who's infected and where there's infected and how many infections there are and how many people you're finding off of contact list, how many people you are following up on, how do you put this disease under control? So data is the lifeblood of public health, and you need adequate data to be able to have a strong public health response to broadly protect our communities.

MART?NEZ: If this isn't fixed⁸, is this going to make the problem worse?

KHAN: Oh, without a doubt. I mean, we see this not just in monkeypox. We saw this in COVID, and we'll see it in the next pandemic. Unless we have a robust⁹ modern data system in the United States to supply public health data, we will always have not as robust of a response and rapid response.

MART?NEZ: I know that monkeypox, at least for us right now, is kind of new, but we've been going through something like this. Why is data seemingly so hard to flow?

KHAN: That would be a question - really important to address this HHS, Department of Health and Human Services, CDC, the administration and state and local health departments. This is a ongoing¹⁰ problem and a significant problem for the United States.

MART?NEZ: Do they not care enough? Do - I mean, do they not think it's as important as other things?

KHAN: It's a hard lift - there's no doubt about it - but it has to be done.

MART?NEZ: Because - you know, I ask that, doctor, because, you know, we mentioned earlier how the outbreak is concentrated among men who have sex with men. So, you know, I'm wondering - I mean, if it's this small group, is there some kind of sense of, like, well, maybe it's not something we need to worry about right now?

KHAN: Well, we need to make sure that there's adequate testing in the United States, so it's been markedly ramped¹¹ up. We need rapid identification. We need to make sure that these individuals are treated. We need to make sure contacts are vaccinated. So all these pieces need to come together. And that all depends on data and understanding how widespread this is within our communities. And kudos¹², again, the positive side - the CDC - you know, TPOX, the antiviral, is more readily available these days. Vaccination - testing has been extended to five commercial labs. So things are getting much better, but still we need better data.

MART?NEZ: That's Dr. Ali Khan, who has handled monkeypox outbreaks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Indiana.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

3 vaccinated   

[医]已接种的，种痘的，接种过疫菌的

参考例句：

• I was vaccinated against tetanus. 我接种了破伤风疫苗。
• Were you vaccinated against smallpox as a child? 你小时候打过天花疫苗吗？

4 variant   

adj.不同的，变异的；n.变体，异体

参考例句：

• We give professional suggestions according to variant tanning stages for each customer.我们针对每位顾客不同的日晒阶段，提供强度适合的晒黑建议。
• In a variant of this approach,the tests are data- driven.这个方法的一个变种，是数据驱动的测试。

5 essentially   

adv.本质上，实质上，基本上

参考例句：

• Really great men are essentially modest.真正的伟人大都很谦虚。
• She is an essentially selfish person.她本质上是个自私自利的人。

6 vaccination   

n.接种疫苗，种痘

参考例句：

• Vaccination is a preventive against smallpox.种痘是预防天花的方法。
• Doctors suggest getting a tetanus vaccination every ten years.医生建议每十年注射一次破伤风疫苗。

7 reminder   

n.提醒物，纪念品；暗示，提示

参考例句：

• I have had another reminder from the library.我又收到图书馆的催还单。
• It always took a final reminder to get her to pay her share of the rent.总是得发给她一份最后催缴通知，她才付应该交的房租。

8 fixed   

adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的

参考例句：

• Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗？
• Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定，我们就不应该随意改变。

9 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

10 ongoing   

adj.进行中的，前进的

参考例句：

• The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
• The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。

11 ramped   

土堤斜坡( ramp的过去式和过去分词 )； 斜道； 斜路； （装车或上下飞机的）活动梯

参考例句：

• With the arrival of George Lucas, the pace has ramped up. 随着乔治·卢卡斯的到来，速度大大加快。
• They also sold corporate bonds as the global financial crisis ramped up. 在全球金融危机加剧之际，他们还抛售了公司债券。

12 kudos   

n.荣誉，名声

参考例句：

• He received kudos from everyone on his performance.他的表演受到大家的称赞。
• It will acquire no kudos for translating its inner doubts into hesitation.如果由于内心疑虑不安而在行动上举棋不定，是得不到荣誉的。