VOA标准英语2014--US Hearing Yields Scathing Remarks About Ebola Response

 

US Hearing Yields Scathing¹ Remarks About Ebola Response

 An emergency U.S. congressional hearing Thursday examined the international efforts to contain the deadly Ebola virus. Testimony² from a volunteer organization made a dire³ prediction about the spread of Ebola in Nigeria and drew scathing remarks about global response to the outbreak.

Thomas Frieden, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told a House of Representatives subcommittee that even though the Ebola virus is out of control in three West African countries, it is a controllable disease.

"It's important that we keep in mind that even without medicines that are specific to Ebola or a vaccine⁴, we do know how to control it, and we can stop it," said Frieden.

Frieden said supportive care saves people's lives. This includes providing fluids and oxygen, if needed, as well as nutrients⁵, and monitoring vital signs. This type of care can help a person with Ebola recover.

Frieden also said the international community can help West African countries with the Ebola epidemic⁶ screen travelers and prevent those who are ill from leaving. This, too, can help contain the virus. 

Samaritan's Purse is a Christian⁷ organization that provides medical support in Liberia. Two Americans who work for the charity, Kent Brantly and Nancy Writebol, contracted the virus and are now being treated at a specially⁹ equipped hospital in Atlanta. Spokesman Ken⁸ Isaacs said his organization saw the crisis coming in April, but the international community ignored pleas for help.

"The international response to the disease has been a failure, and it is important to understand that,” said Isaacs.

Isaacs warned members of Congress that Ebola is going to emerge with a fury in Nigeria in about three weeks because a man who contracted Ebola in Liberia later traveled to Nigeria, where he died.

1 scathing   

adj.（言词、文章）严厉的，尖刻的；不留情的adv.严厉地，尖刻地v.伤害，损害（尤指使之枯萎）( scathe的现在分词)

参考例句：

• a scathing attack on the new management 针对新的管理层的猛烈抨击
• Her speech was a scathing indictment of the government's record on crime. 她的演讲强烈指责了政府在犯罪问题上的表现。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 testimony   

n.证词；见证，证明

参考例句：

• The testimony given by him is dubious.他所作的证据是可疑的。
• He was called in to bear testimony to what the police officer said.他被传入为警官所说的话作证。

3 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。

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 nutrients   

n.（食品或化学品）营养物，营养品( nutrient的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lack of essential nutrients 基本营养的缺乏
• Nutrients are absorbed into the bloodstream. 营养素被吸收进血液。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 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。

7 Christian   

adj.基督教徒的；n.基督教徒

参考例句：

• They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
• His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。

8 ken   

n.视野，知识领域

参考例句：

• Such things are beyond my ken.我可不懂这些事。
• Abstract words are beyond the ken of children.抽象的言辞超出小孩所理解的范围.

9 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。