VOA标准英语2009年-Arab Health Ministers Impose Age Limits on

Arab health ministers, meeting in Cairo, have agreed to impose restrictions¹ on this year's Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca in a bid to control the spread of the H1N1 swine flu virus. The ministers are forbidding those under age 12 and over age 65 from participating.
　
Tens of thousands of Muslim pilgrims move around the Kaaba, the black cube seen at center, inside the Grand Mosque², during the annual Hajj in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, 09 Dec 2008

Growing fears of a flu epidemic³ across the Arab world is prompting Arab health ministers to restrict participation⁴ in this year's annual Hajj.

After an urgent meeting in Cairo, more than a dozen Arab health ministers agreed to prevent young and elderly Hajj candidates, as well as those with health problems, from traveling to Saudi Arabia for the annual event.

Saudi Arabia, which hosts the Hajj and grants visas to participants, first recommended restricting participation last month. The kingdom has had a number of H1N1 flu cases, and fears of a health crisis during the Hajj were behind the move.

Saudi Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabeeah urged the Arab press to inform the public about the decision to limit Hajj participation and noted⁵ that his country was increasing the number of flu shots on hand to control an eventual⁶ outbreak.
　
Saudi Health Minister Abdullah al-Rabeeah speaks during press conference in Cairo, 22 Jul 2009

The Saudi Kingdom, he argues, is working to protect the health of pilgrims.

He says the recommendations on restricting Hajj participants have been approved and will be put into action, and hopefully, they will guarantee the safety of all those who want to perform their pilgrimage.

The Eastern Mediterranean⁷ regional director of the World Health Organization, Hussein Gezairi pointed⁸ out the recommendations of the health ministers would be enforced and that no visas would be granted unless Hajj candidates met all requirements.

He says organizational procedures were devised based on the categories that have been determined⁹ by the Saudi health minister. Centers to approve visa candidates will be set up, registered, and equipped under the Health Ministry¹⁰ to prevent anyone from obtaining visa documents that are not correctly approved.

Yemeni Health Minister Abdul Karim Rasae, who chaired the conference, said the decision to prevent vulnerable people from attending this year's Hajj was debated long and hard before being approved.

He says all the ministers profited from their discussions and the decisions that were arrived at stemmed from their debate and had not been cooked up in advance.

The Saudi government has the power to grant or deny visas according to its own discretion¹¹, and the Saudis indicated last month that participation in this year's Hajj should be restricted.

1 restrictions   

约束( restriction的名词复数 )； 管制； 制约因素； 带限制性的条件（或规则）

参考例句：

• I found the restrictions irksome. 我对那些限制感到很烦。
• a snaggle of restrictions 杂乱无章的种种限制

2 mosque   

n.清真寺

参考例句：

• The mosque is a activity site and culture center of Muslim religion.清真寺为穆斯林宗教活动场所和文化中心。
• Some years ago the clock in the tower of the mosque got out of order.几年前，清真寺钟楼里的大钟失灵了。

3 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。

4 participation   

n.参与，参加，分享

参考例句：

• Some of the magic tricks called for audience participation.有些魔术要求有观众的参与。
• The scheme aims to encourage increased participation in sporting activities.这个方案旨在鼓励大众更多地参与体育活动。

5 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。

6 eventual   

adj.最后的，结局的，最终的

参考例句：

• Several schools face eventual closure.几所学校面临最终关闭。
• Both parties expressed optimism about an eventual solution.双方对问题的最终解决都表示乐观。

7 Mediterranean   

adj.地中海的；地中海沿岸的

参考例句：

• The houses are Mediterranean in character.这些房子都属地中海风格。
• Gibraltar is the key to the Mediterranean.直布罗陀是地中海的要冲。

8 pointed   

adj.尖的，直截了当的

参考例句：

• He gave me a very sharp pointed pencil.他给我一支削得非常尖的铅笔。
• She wished to show Mrs.John Dashwood by this pointed invitation to her brother.她想通过对达茨伍德夫人提出直截了当的邀请向她的哥哥表示出来。

9 determined   

adj.坚定的；有决心的

参考例句：

• I have determined on going to Tibet after graduation.我已决定毕业后去西藏。
• He determined to view the rooms behind the office.他决定查看一下办公室后面的房间。

10 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

11 discretion   

n.谨慎；随意处理

参考例句：

• You must show discretion in choosing your friend.你择友时必须慎重。
• Please use your best discretion to handle the matter.请慎重处理此事。