2006年VOA标准英语-Red Cross Steps Up Bird Flu Prevention Act

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
20 April 2006
 
  
  
The International Federation¹ of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies is launching an appeal for $13.4 million for operations aimed at preventing the spread of bird flu from animals to humans.  The agency says it plans to step up activities in remote areas of Africa and Asia.

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Over the past few months, avian influenza² has spread rapidly across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, carried by migratory³ birds. 

There now are 47 countries affected⁴ by the deadly H5N1 strain of the virus.  The virus has so far only spread rapidly among bird populations, and humans who have been infected are believed to have contracted the virus from birds. But public health experts fear the virus could mutate, and spread among humans, causing a deadly pandemic.

Public health officials around the world have been working to prevent that. The International Red Cross says it plans to scale-up its bird flu operations in 26 countries, mainly in Asia and Africa. 

Red Cross Public Health Emergency Chief Adelheid Marschang says 50,000 national volunteers will be specially⁵ trained to deal with this crisis.  She says, they will inform people in remote rural communities of the risks, and measures they must take to prevent bird flu from spreading to humans.

"This is very critical," said Dr. Marschang.  "If remote, vulnerable communities who live in close proximity⁶ to poultry⁷ are not reached, then avian influenza will continue to spread.  It is not possible to control migratory birds, and this could lead to more human infections."

Dr. Marschang says there is a vast network of trained Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers, trained to go to the most far flung places, and take the prevention message to those most at risk.  They include small-scale poultry farmers, backyard poultry owners, rural traders, housewives and children. 

The World Health Organization says fewer than 200 human cases of bird flu have been reported. Of those, 110 people have died.  It says most of these cases have occurred in rural households, where people have come in close contact with infected poultry.

Dr. Marschang says the volunteers will inform local communities on proper handling of poultry, and on early detection of human cases.  They also will educate people on good hygienic practices, and distribute protective materials.

"The volunteers that are giving the messages are coming from those communities," added Dr. Marschang.  "They are part of the communities in the whole country… That is exactly the strength that many of the volunteers we work through come from affected communities.  They know the concerns.  They can translate and talk in the languages of the communities, in simple terms.  They know the habits and the local traditions, and they can express precisely⁸ what it is that has to be done."

The Red Cross says West and Central Africa is in a particularly vulnerable position.  It says special care will be given in developing activities and responses geared to meeting the challenges there.

1 federation   

n.同盟，联邦，联合，联盟，联合会

参考例句：

• It is a federation of 10 regional unions.它是由十个地方工会结合成的联合会。
• Mr.Putin was inaugurated as the President of the Russian Federation.普京正式就任俄罗斯联邦总统。

2 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。

3 migratory   

n.候鸟，迁移

参考例句：

• Many migratory birds visit this lake annually.许多候鸟每年到这个湖上作短期逗留。
• This does not negate the idea of migratory aptitude.这并没有否定迁移能力这一概念。

4 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。

5 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

6 proximity   

n.接近，邻近

参考例句：

• Marriages in proximity of blood are forbidden by the law.法律规定禁止近亲结婚。
• Their house is in close proximity to ours.他们的房子很接近我们的。

7 poultry   

n.家禽，禽肉

参考例句：

• There is not much poultry in the shops. 商店里禽肉不太多。
• What do you feed the poultry on? 你们用什么饲料喂养家禽?

8 precisely   

adv.恰好，正好，精确地，细致地

参考例句：

• It's precisely that sort of slick sales-talk that I mistrust.我不相信的正是那种油腔滑调的推销宣传。
• The man adjusted very precisely.那个人调得很准。