VOA慢速英语 2007 0501b

VOICE ONE:

This is SCIENCE IN THE NEWS in VOA Special English.  I’m Faith Lapidus.

VOICE TWO:

 
Health officials in Kuwait bury hundreds of chickens earlier this year after several cases of bird flu¹ were confirmed 
And I’m Bob Doughty².  Today we present the third in a series³ of reports about the disease⁴ bird flu.  In this report, we will tell how people can protect themselves and their families from the disease.

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VOICE ONE:

The World Health Organization says the world is closer to a pandemic of the influenza⁵ virus⁶ than at any time since nineteen sixty-eight.  In a pandemic, the flu virus would spread quickly to large numbers of people in many countries.  Right now, a deadly bird flu virus is not spreading among people very easily.  But that could change.  The W.H.O. and other health organizations believe people can help stop the spread of bird flu if they have more information about the disease.

VOICE TWO:

By the end of March, one hundred seventy people had died of bird flu in twelve countries.  Vietnam⁷ had a very high number of deaths at first.  But the country has had no human cases of bird flu since late two thousand five. 

The United⁸ Nations Food and Agriculture Organization says animal health officials in Vietnam have been able to prevent the virus in farm birds from spreading to people.  Part of the reason is better communication at all levels about the causes and prevention⁹ of bird flu.

VOICE ONE:

Most bird flu cases in human beings have resulted from people touching¹⁰ infected farm birds, such as chickens, ducks or turkeys.  Last year, for example, bird flu killed three members of a family in Egypt.  They lived in the same house.  All three persons had helped to kill and clean infected ducks. 

The Egyptian government has offered important advice for people who work with live birds.  The government says protection¹¹ from bird flu comes partly from knowing how to recognize the disease and strong prevention efforts.  It says protection also results from stopping the spread of the virus, and informing health officials when you suspect bird flu.

VOICE TWO:

In many countries, chicken and other farm birds are an important part of the diet.  Farm bird sales are important to the economies¹² in these countries.  So some governments have organized campaigns¹⁴ to tell people to continue eating well-cooked chicken. 

Some health officials and governments have had problems when they attempt to give advice about bird flu.  When bird flu is reported in a country, the government usually announces how people can prevent the disease in their own families.  Other announcements say it is safe to eat chicken and eggs as long as they are completely¹⁵ cooked.  Yet people often do not follow the rules about preventing bird flu.  For example, they may stop eating chicken and eggs.  A writer in The Scientist magazine noted¹⁶ recently that people’s feelings sometimes are stronger than the facts.

VOICE ONE:

In Africa, many families keep chickens and other birds near their homes.  Many people buy live chickens from markets.  So everyone could be at risk. 

Here is the best information about ways to protect yourself and your family from bird flu.  First, children and women who are pregnant¹⁷ should stay away from farm birds.  Children like to play with birds and other animals, but they are not careful about what they touch.  Children should not play with birds or gather their eggs.  

Do not swim in or use water that may have been used by birds.  Heat any of this water to a very high temperature before drinking it or using it for cooking.

Wear protective¹⁸ clothing on your body and hands when working with farm birds.  Remember to clean your shoes or feet before going in the house.  Keep birds away from areas where people eat or sleep.  In fact, it is best not to bring farm birds into the house at all. 

VOICE TWO:

It is also important to follow rules of good health and cleanliness when preparing and eating meat or eggs from farm birds.  Keep the meat of birds that have not been cooked away from other foods.  After cutting uncooked meat, use soap and water to wash hands, knives and cutting surfaces.  If possible, use a strong cleaning agent like bleach¹⁹. 

Be sure that meat and eggs from farm birds are completely cooked before eating them.  The yellow and white parts of the egg must be cooked until they are solid²⁰.  Freezing or keeping meat cold will not kill the bird flu virus.  Only complete cooking will kill the virus.

VOICE ONE:

You can also protect farm birds from bird flu.  When buying chickens, keep them away from the birds you already have for at least two weeks.  Cover the water your birds drink so that it is not used by wild birds.  Clean the areas where farm birds stay.  As soon as a bird looks sick, remove it from the area.  If you take birds to the market and bring some of them home, temporarily keep them away from your other birds.

Owners of farms also can take preventative steps.  They should not borrow equipment from other farms.  If vehicles²¹ enter your farm, wash the wheels so they cannot bring in dirt that might contain the bird flu virus.  When you return from a market, wash the boxes or containers that were used to carry farm birds.

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VOICE TWO:

You need to know the signs of bird flu in a chicken or duck.  Birds will appear tired and refuse to eat.  The skin around a bird’s head may become blue.  The head and legs may become larger.  Birds infected with bird flu may produce more waste than usual.  They usually make very few eggs and may die suddenly.  The shells²² of their eggs may be very soft. 

Prevent the spread of bird flu by putting dead farm birds into closed containers or bags.  Do not throw dead birds into lakes, rivers or other waterways.  Do not eat or sell any part of a bird that has died from disease.  Bury dead farm birds or their body parts far away from homes and farms.

It is important to report dead birds to animal health officials as soon as possible.  If there is bird flu in your area, do not visit other farms or let visitors come to your farm.

VOICE ONE:

There are also rules for hunters and people who work with birds for sport.  Wash your hands completely when touching birds used for sport or wild birds.  Do not touch any of the bird’s blood or body fluids²³.  Cover your nose and mouth when cleaning areas where birds have been fighting.

If you hunt birds, do not use dogs.  Dogs can become infected with the bird flu virus when they carry infected birds.  Do not hunt wild birds in areas where there have been cases of bird flu.  When you are cleaning birds you have killed, cover your nose, mouth and hands.  Be sure to wash your hands and all your tools after you are finished.

(MUSIC)

VOICE TWO:

What happens if you follow all these rules and someone in your family gets sick?  How will you know if it is bird flu?  People who could be infected with the bird flu virus will have difficulty²⁴ breathing.  They may have a very high body temperature, an eye infection²⁵ and pain in their throat or muscles²⁶. 

If someone you know has these problems, care for the person without touching him anymore than you need to.  Do not sleep in the same room with a person who may have bird flu.  Take the person to a doctor as soon as possible.

VOICE ONE:

There are medicines that can help make the bird flu sickness less severe²⁷.  Scientists are working to make a medicine to protect against bird flu.  There are some such vaccines²⁹ for farm birds.  Last month, American health officials approved a vaccine²⁸ that offers some people protection against bird flu.  But scientists are working to develop a more effective vaccine. 

VOICE TWO:

Finally, it is important to find good ways to share information about bird flu.  For example, a group of parents in Indonesia³⁰ started their own campaign¹³ to educate other parents.  A leader of the group said too many families do not have televisions to see announcements from the government.  So the group organized a four-hour program in a local school.  One parent said she wanted to share the information she learned³¹ so that there would be no more bird flu deaths in Indonesia.

Another leader said the group wants to educate workers who collect waste and people who sell goods on city streets.  She said these people could talk to other people and help spread information about the disease.  As one school official has noted, more people will die if public knowledge about bird flu is lacking.

VOICE ONE:

This SCIENCE IN THE NEWS program was written by Karen Leggett.  Brianna Blake was our producer.  I'm Faith Lapidus.

VOICE TWO:

And I'm Bob Doughty.  Join us again next week at this time for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of America.

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1 flu   

n.流行性感冒

参考例句：

• I've been laid up with flu for a week.我患流感已在家休息一个星期了。
• Mind that your children don't catch the flu.小心别让你孩子传上流感。

2 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

3 series   

n.连续；系列

参考例句：

• The students have put forward a series of questions.学生们提出了一系列问题。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

4 disease   

n.疾病，弊端

参考例句：

• The doctors are trying to stamp out the disease.医生正在尽力消灭这种疾病。
• He fought against the disease for a long time.他同疾病做了长时间的斗争。

5 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。

6 virus   

n.病毒，滤过性微生物，毒害，恶毒；（一个能够复制、感染其他程序或破坏操作系统的程序）

参考例句：

• He is suffering from a virus infection.他受到病毒感染。
• There is a virus going round the world.世界上流行着一种病毒性疾病。

7 Vietnam   

n.越南

参考例句：

• Vietnam is suffering from food shortage.越南正遭受食物短缺之苦。
• Laos is on the west of Vietnam.老挝在越南西面。

8 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

9 prevention   

n.阻止，妨碍，预防

参考例句：

• They have begun to do the prevention of crime.他们已经开始防止犯罪行为。
• Prevention of forest fires is up to you.森林防火是你们的责任。

10 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

11 protection   

n.保护，防卫，保护制度

参考例句：

• The protection of the country is the duty of everyone.保卫国家是每个人的责任。
• The young in our society need care and protection.我们社会的年轻人需要关怀和照顾。

12 economies   

n.节约( economy的名词复数 )；经济；经济情况；经济结构

参考例句：

• A customs union would integrate the economies of these countries. 关税联盟会把这些国家的经济紧密结合在一起。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Economies have peaks and troughs. 经济有高峰，也有低谷。 来自辞典例句

13 campaign   

n.运动；竞选活动；战役；vi.参加运动；进行竞选；作战

参考例句：

• The election campaign heated up in that state.该州竞选运动激烈起来了。
• The campaign had begun during his absence.在他不在期间运动已经开始了。

14 campaigns   

n.运动( campaign的名词复数 )；竞选运动；战役；季节性竞赛

参考例句：

• Extraneous factors can intervene and cause the shelving of advertising campaigns. 广告活动会因外部因素影响而推迟进行。 来自辞典例句
• The rebels defiantly welcomed new allies and laid plans for unionization campaigns. 造反派热烈欢迎新盟友，并制订组织工会的计划。 来自辞典例句

15 completely   

adv.完全地，十分地，全然

参考例句：

• She never completely gave up hope.她从不完全放弃希望。
• I feel completely in the dark on this question.这件事使我感到茫然。

16 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。

17 pregnant   

adj.怀孕的，怀胎的

参考例句：

• She is a pregnant woman.她是一名孕妇。
• She is pregnant with her first child.她怀了第一胎。

18 protective   

adj.防护的，保护的

参考例句：

• A mother naturally feels protective towards her children.做母亲的天生要保护自己的孩子。
• We feel safe with a protective device in the house.我们因为家里有了防护装置而感到安全。

19 bleach   

vt.使漂白；vi.变白；n.漂白剂

参考例句：

• These products don't bleach the hair.这些产品不会使头发变白。
• Did you bleach this tablecloth?你把这块桌布漂白了吗？

20 solid   

adj.固体的，结实的，可靠的，实心的；n.固体，实心；adv. 一致地

参考例句：

• Water may change from a liquid to a solid.水可以由液体变为固体。
• I know that James is a solid type of person.我知道詹姆斯是个可信赖的人。

21 vehicles   

n.运载工具；传播媒介；（为展露演员才华而）特意编写的一出戏（或电影等）；[画]展色剂；交通工具( vehicle的名词复数 )；车辆；传播媒介；手段

参考例句：

• There is not much clearance for vehicles passing under this bridge. 车辆在这座桥下通过时没有多少余隙。
• to carry out random spot checks on vehicles 对车辆进行抽检

22 shells   

n.（贝、卵、坚果等的）壳( shell的名词复数 )；外壳；炮弹；（人的）表面性格

参考例句：

• We collected shells on the beach. 我们在海滩拾贝壳。
• But at last the shells cracked, one after another. 最后，蛋壳一个接着一个地裂开了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

23 fluids   

n.液体，流体( fluid的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• He is taking cold fluids. 他正在喝冷饮。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• You can contract Aids if your bodily fluids come into contact with the bodily fluids of someone else who is infected with HIV. 如果你的体液与染有HIV者的体液接触，你就会染上艾滋病。 来自《简明英汉词典》

24 difficulty   

n.困难，费劲；难事，难题；麻烦，困境

参考例句：

• If there is any difficulty,please let us know promptly.倘有困难，请迅速通知我们。
• A little difficulty like this is nothing to us.这点困难算不了什么。

25 infection   

n.传染，影响，传染病

参考例句：

• He is suffering from a virus infection.他受到病毒感染。
• White blood cells fight infection.白血球抵抗感染。

26 muscles   

n.肌肉( muscle的名词复数 )；（操纵他人的）力量；权力；肌肉组织

参考例句：

• I must take some exercise and loosen up my muscles. 我必须活动活动使肌肉放松些。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Gosh! My muscles is going to ache all over tomorrow. 哎呀！明天我全身肌肉都会痛了。 来自《简明英汉词典》

27 severe   

adj.严格的，凶猛的，严肃的，严重的，严厉的，朴素的

参考例句：

• The severe storm did for most of the crops.猛烈的暴风雨毁掉了大部分庄稼。
• The pace was too severe to be kept up for long.跟上这步伐太难了，无法持久。

28 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。

29 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。

30 Indonesia   

n.印度尼西亚

参考例句：

• You see,I stayed in Indonesia for eight years.你知道，我在印度尼西亚呆了8年。
• Indonesia has more active volcanoes than any other country.印尼是世界上活火山最多的国家。

31 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。