新奇事件簿 疟疾呼吸测试器帮助数百万人（在线收听）

Scientists have developed a breathalyzer to test people for malaria. The device could help detect the deadly disease much earlier than other methods and thus help millions of people around the world. The researchers, from Washington University in St Louis, USA, say that people with malaria give off a distinctive "breath print". The breathalyzer detects the chemicals that malaria creates as the person breathes into the device. One of the odours the device detects is identical to a natural smell that attracts malaria-spreading insects such as mosquitos. The device is still in its early stages of development. The researchers say it could lead to a new, cheap and easy way to help diagnose malaria.

科学家发明了一种呼吸测试器，帮助人们检测疟疾。这种设备比其他方法更容易检测这种致命疾病，因此可以帮助全世界数百万人。来自美国圣路易斯华盛顿大学的研究人员表示，感染了疟疾的人的呼吸会散发出独特的味道。患者向设备内呼入空气的时候，呼吸检测器能够检测出这种化学物质。设备能够检测到的其中一种味道与一种天然的味道类似，能够吸引传播疟疾的昆虫，比如蚊子。设备仍然处于研发的初级阶段。研究人员表示，该研究能够促成简便、低价的疟疾诊断方法。

The prototype breathalyzer detects six different odours or chemical compounds to spot instances of malaria. The researchers did tests on 35 children in Malawi. They took breath samples using the breathalyzer to test the accuracy of the machine. It accurately identified 29 of the children as having malaria. This was a success rate of 83 per cent. Lead researcher Audrey Odom John said: "It's clear that if we had fast, easy-to-use, reliable diagnostic devices…we could reduce unnecessary antibiotic use. This would have a major impact on the control of malaria, because all current diagnostic methods require blood sampling." Malaria currently kills around 430,000 a year around the world.

这种呼吸检测器雏形可以检测六种不同的味道或化合物来鉴定疟疾病例。研究人员对马拉维35名儿童进行了测试。他们用呼吸测试器收集了呼吸样本，测试机器的准确性。机器准确地鉴别出其中29名儿童患有疟疾。成功率达83%。首席研究人员Audrey Odom John表示：“很明显，如果我们有快速、简便、可信的诊断设备，我们就能减少不必要的抗生素使用。这对于我们防控疟疾有着重大影响，因为所有现行的诊断方法都需要血液样本。”疟疾现在每年造成全世界大约43万人死亡。