世卫:甲流稍退 仍需警惕

世卫组织周三说，已有超过208个国家和地区报告了经实验室检测证实的甲型H1N1流感病例。陈冯富珍说，至少有12,220人死于这一疾病。她说，可能还会出现第三个传播高峰期，南半球数月内将再次迎来流感季节，届时可能会再次经历一次传播高峰。
Cases of H1N1 flu confirmed by laboratory testing have been reported in more than 208 countries and overseas territories, the WHO said Wednesday, and at least 12,220 people have died. A third wave is possible, Dr. Chan said, noting that the southern hemisphere could experience another one when its flu season returns in a few months.
　　
陈冯富珍说，与2003年全球匆忙应对非典型性肺炎(SARS)的情况相比，如今全球卫生官员拥有明显更好的手段来应对新出现的传染病。在非典爆发时，陈冯富珍是香港卫生部门负责人。她称赞说，在甲型H1N1病毒确认的8个月来，各个国家充分和及时地共享病情、病毒样本、诊断能力以及研究专家力量。
Global health officials have far better tools for battling emerging infections than they did 'in 2003 when the world was really scrambling to deal with SARS,' said Dr. Chan, who was director of health in Hong Kong during the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome. She credited countries with 'generous and timely sharing' of information, virus samples, diagnostic capabilities and research expertise in the eight months since the H1N1 virus was identified.
　　
但陈冯富珍说，世界还没有准备好应对一场致命性疫病，例如官员们所担心可能由H5N1禽流感病毒引发的传染病。这种病毒虽然罕见，但导致了约60%的感染患者死亡。陈冯富珍说，如今全球更多的人承受着慢性疾病、艾滋病(HIV)以及其他疾病，全球经济衰退把很多人进一步推向贫困，一场中度流行病的爆发可能会成为这个十年最好的卫生新闻。
But the world isn't ready for a deadly pandemic like one that officials have feared could be sparked by the H5N1 avian-flu virus, which, though rare, has killed about 60% of the people it has infected, she said. Against a backdrop in which more people suffering from chronic diseases, HIV, and other diseases, and a global recession that has pushed many further into poverty, 'the occurrence of a moderate pandemic will probably rank as the best health news of the decade,' Dr. Chan said.