VOA慢速英语2009-Development Report - A Doctor Who Left His Mark

This is the VOA Special English Development Report.

Health officials in the Democratic¹ Republic of Congo have declared the end of an outbreak of Ebola virus. Cases were first identified in December in the southern province of Kasai Occidental. The World Health Organization says officials reported a total of thirty-two cases, including fifteen deaths.
　
A doctor and nurse treat a patient with Ebola in Congo's Kasai Occidental province in September 2007, during an earlier outbreak

The worst form of the disease² kills nine out of ten victims. Ebola is a hemorrhagic fever. It causes unstoppable bleeding. It spreads through contact with blood and other bodily fluids³. There are no cures, but researchers continue to learn more about how the feared virus works⁴.

It was named for the Ebola River in the former Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo. A doctor in Zaire, Ngoy Mushola, documented the first outbreak in nineteen seventy- six. Hundreds of people were infected, and most died.

The epidemic⁵ might have been even worse had it not been for the father of the actress Glenn Close.

Doctor William Close, an American, worked in Zaire for sixteen years. For a time he was one of only three doctors, and the only surgeon, at a huge hospital in Kinshasa. Later he was the administrator⁶. He was also chief doctor of Zaire's army and personal physician to President Mobutu Sese Seko.
　
Doctor William Close

One night, Doctor Close was on a plane, returning from a visit to the United States. He heard two other passengers talking about the epidemic. The United States Centers for Disease Control had sent them to help.

One was a virus expert. Karl Johnson had identified and photographed the Ebola virus just days earlier. The other was Joel Breman, another C.D.C. expert. Doctor Close spent the flight talking with them.

Then, in Zaire, he quickly used his connections and influence with the government. Doctor Breman remembers how William Close's planning and administration⁷ helped the medical team end the epidemic. He organized supply flights, for example, to affected⁸ areas.

To contain the spread of the virus, people were restricted⁹ to villages. Medical workers were given protective¹⁰ clothing. Equipment was carefully disinfected.

After his work in Africa, William Close returned to the United States. He became a country doctor, as he had always wanted. He was still working in Big Piney, Wyoming, when he died of a heart attack on January fifteenth. He was eighty-four years old. Joel Breman says, "Doctor Close left his mark on the world."

And that's the VOA Special English Development Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I'm Steve Ember.

1 democratic   

adj.民主的；民主主义的，有民主精神的

参考例句：

• Their country has democratic government.他们国家实行民主政体。
• He has a democratic work-style.他作风民主。

2 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。

3 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》

4 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

5 epidemic   

n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的

参考例句：

• That kind of epidemic disease has long been stamped out.那种传染病早已绝迹。
• The authorities tried to localise the epidemic.当局试图把流行病限制在局部范围。

6 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

7 administration   

n.经营，管理；行政，行政机关，管理部门

参考例句：

• Who is in charge of the administration of your company?你们公司的行政工作由谁负责？
• The teachers are responsible to the school administration.教师向学校行政负责。

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

9 restricted   

adj.有限的；受约束的

参考例句：

• Speed is restricted to 30 mph in towns. 在城里车速不得超过每小时30英里。
• a restricted range of foods 有限的食物种类

10 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。