VOA标准英语2010年-WHO Denies Hyping Dangers of Swine Flu

The World Health Organization refutes charges by politicians in some European countries that it has exaggerated the dangers of Swine Flu.  The WHO also denies any of its decisions have been improperly¹ influenced by the pharmaceutical² industry for commercial reasons.

The World Health Organization has been clearly stung by these criticisms.  Special Adviser³ to the WHO Director-General on Pandemic Influenza⁴, Keiji Fukuda says there is no truth to the allegations that the agency overplayed the severity of the pandemic. 

"I want to emphasize the world is going through a real pandemic.  The description of it as a fake is both wrong and is irresponsible.  The second point is that WHO has been balanced and truthful⁵ in the information it has provided to the public.  It has not underplayed and it has not overplayed the risks of a pandemic," he said. 

Fukuda says the allegation that H1N1 is not a pandemic is scientifically wrong and historically inaccurate⁶.  He says when WHO Director-General, Margaret Chan, announced the pandemic last year, she said it would be of mild severity.

He notes about 13,000 people are believed to have been directly killed by the H1N1 influenza virus.  He adds this figure is likely to be considerably⁷ higher when the final estimate of the toll⁸ from H1N1 is made in the future.

He says the World Health Organization does not have a crystal ball and does not know how the disease will evolve.  He says WHO has always been very balanced and sober in providing its assessment⁹.

"We have worked very hard to neither overplay nor underplay the situation.  And, we have worked very hard to try to reduce confusion rather than to create it," he said.. "Now, since we have always known and have repeatedly said that pandemics can range from mild to severe, we have also pointed¹⁰ out that severity can change in mid-stream.  And, given this situation, WHO and other responsible health authorities have adopted a precautionary approach.  That is we have tried to prepare everyone for the worst and to hope for the best," he added.

The World Health Organization says it has not been subject to any undue¹¹ influence from pharmaceutical companies.  Dr. Fukuda says the organization has worked hard to make sure there is no conflict of interest when seeking advice.

 

1 improperly   

不正确地，不适当地

参考例句：

• Of course it was acting improperly. 这样做就是不对嘛！
• He is trying to improperly influence a witness. 他在试图误导证人。

2 pharmaceutical   

adj.药学的，药物的；药用的，药剂师的

参考例句：

• She has donated money to establish a pharmaceutical laboratory.她捐款成立了一个药剂实验室。
• We are engaged in a legal tussle with a large pharmaceutical company.我们正同一家大制药公司闹法律纠纷。

3 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

4 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。

5 truthful   

adj.真实的，说实话的，诚实的

参考例句：

• You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心，他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
• I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。

6 inaccurate   

adj.错误的，不正确的，不准确的

参考例句：

• The book is both inaccurate and exaggerated.这本书不但不准确，而且夸大其词。
• She never knows the right time because her watch is inaccurate.她从来不知道准确的时间因为她的表不准。

7 considerably   

adv.极大地；相当大地；在很大程度上

参考例句：

• The economic situation has changed considerably.经济形势已发生了相当大的变化。
• The gap has narrowed considerably.分歧大大缩小了。

8 toll   

n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟)

参考例句：

• The hailstone took a heavy toll of the crops in our village last night.昨晚那场冰雹损坏了我们村的庄稼。
• The war took a heavy toll of human life.这次战争夺去了许多人的生命。

9 assessment   

n.评价；评估；对财产的估价，被估定的金额

参考例句：

• This is a very perceptive assessment of the situation.这是一个对该情况的极富洞察力的评价。
• What is your assessment of the situation?你对时局的看法如何？

10 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。

11 undue   

adj.过分的；不适当的；未到期的

参考例句：

• Don't treat the matter with undue haste.不要过急地处理此事。
• It would be wise not to give undue importance to his criticisms.最好不要过分看重他的批评。