2006年VOA标准英语-Polio Cases Increasing in Afghanistan

By George Dwyer
Washington, DC
06 October 2006
 
watch Afghanistan Polio report

The number of polio cases reported in Afghanistan so far this year is up sharply over figures tallied¹ for the whole of 2005. As VOA's George Dwyer reports, nearly all of the new cases occurred in the country's southern provinces, scene of some of the fiercest armed violence the country has witnessed in years.

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Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai  
  
Speaking before the United Nations General Assembly earlier this month (in September 2006), Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai addressed many of the challenges facing his country - including a troubling new development. "It is also sobering to know that polio - the children's disease - increased from 4 cases in 2005 to 27 cases this year."

That disturbing trend is being linked to the fact that many Afghan children have not received scheduled vaccinations² in recent months. Widespread disruption of medical service - particularly in the country's war torn south - is considered the most likely cause.

Ellyn Ogden  
  
U.S. Agency for International Development Polio Eradication³ Director Ellyn Ogden says that, except for a single case reported in Western Afghanistan, all the others were found in the southern provinces where violence has disrupted communications, transportation, and the flow of supplies needed to prevent the disease. "Actually the number of cases has gone up 6 times what it was in 2005.

It is really not a question of availability of supply. It is more how do we access children, how do we have safe passage for vaccinators, and how do we make sure that the people on the ground can reach every child under age 5 repeatedly with vaccine⁴ so that we can stop transmission."

Delivering needed vaccine to children in developing nations is challenging under the best of circumstances says UNICEF Immunization Officer Francois Gasse.

Afghan babies   
  
"They live too far away from any immunization sites, they cannot get access to the immunization services and they cannot get access to immunization services because there are minority groups living in remote areas with very limited road infrastructure⁵."

Twenty-seven cases of polio in a nation of nearly 30 million people - is that a serious problem? Ogden says it is serious. "It is serious because at this point in the eradication program any ongoing⁶ transmission is a threat to the global program. It is also a threat to the surrounding countries, most immediately around Afghanistan, who have been polio free for quite a while. Nobody wants to see an importation."

Ogden says that in order to halt the spread of polio routine early age immunization is essential. To support that effort, the Untied⁷ States contributes about $2 million a year to funding polio eradication activities in Afghanistan. Among those activities are so-called "Days of Tranquility."

Ogden adds, "President Karzai has set up a panel to try to work with local governors and to come up with local solutions. We feel that it is in the best interest of everybody to negotiate days of tranquility, or ceasefires, to immunize kids."

Polio typically spreads when unvaccinated children consume food or water tainted⁸ by virus contaminated fecal matter. After attacking the nervous system, polio can cause irreversible paralysis⁹, or even death. Nearly 1900 people were stricken with polio worldwide in 2005, down from more than 350,000 before 1988 when the World Health Organization launched a global anti-polio campaign.  Today only six countries remain endemic: Niger, Nigeria, Egypt, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

1 tallied   

v.计算，清点( tally的过去式和过去分词 )；加标签（或标记）于；（使）符合；（使）吻合

参考例句：

• The girl tallied them with her eyes for a moment. 新娘用目光把这些化妆品清点了一下。 来自教父部分
• His account of the accident tallied with hers. 他对事故的陈述和她的相吻合。 来自辞典例句

2 vaccinations   

n.种痘，接种( vaccination的名词复数 )；牛痘疤

参考例句：

• Vaccinations ensure one against diseases. 接种疫苗可以预防疾病。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• I read some publicity about vaccinations while waiting my turn at the doctor's. 在医生那儿候诊时，我读了一些关于接种疫苗的宣传。 来自《简明英汉词典》

3 eradication   

n.根除

参考例句：

• The eradication of an established infestation is not easy. 根除昆虫蔓延是不容易的。
• This is often required for intelligent control and eradication. 这经常需要灵巧的控制与消除。

4 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。

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

6 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。

7 untied   

松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决

参考例句：

• Once untied, we common people are able to conquer nature, too. 只要团结起来，我们老百姓也能移山倒海。
• He untied the ropes. 他解开了绳子。

8 tainted   

adj.腐坏的；污染的；沾污的；感染的v.使变质( taint的过去式和过去分词 )；使污染；败坏；被污染，腐坏，败坏

参考例句：

• The administration was tainted with scandal. 丑闻使得政府声名狼藉。
• He was considered tainted by association with the corrupt regime. 他因与腐败政府有牵连而名誉受损。 来自《简明英汉词典》

9 paralysis   

n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症)

参考例句：

• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。
• The paralysis affects his right leg and he can only walk with difficulty.他右腿瘫痪步履维艰。