David Nabarro, the UN special envoy (特使), told the reporter the number of Ebola cases was currently increasing rapidly, but greater community awareness would help contain the virus.
People were becoming aware that isolating those infected was the best way to prevent transmission, he added. So far, there have been more than 8,300 confirmed and suspected cases of Ebola, and at least 4,033 deaths. Most deaths - 4,024 - have occurred in the west African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Cases have also been reported in Nigeria, Senegal, Spain and the US.
Mr Nabarro said that the number of new cases was “quite frightening”, as the spread of the disease was currently accelerating. At the beginning, many west African communities did not understand that the outbreak was an infectious disease, he said.
“I think we’ve got much better community involvement which leads me to believe that getting it under control within the next three months is a reasonable target,” he continued.
“By under control I mean... the numbers of new cases each week diminishes compared with the previous week to the point where there is no new transmission.”
The Ebola virus is spread by direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or animal.
Meanwhile, New York’s JFK airport began screening passengers from Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea for the Ebola virus on Saturday, in an attempt to stop the outbreak. Passengers from those countries will have their temperatures taken and have to answer a series of questions.
Checks at O’Hare in Chicago, Newark, Washington’s Dulles and Atlanta’s airport will begin in the coming days. The screening system is being introduced after the first person to be diagnosed with Ebola in the US died in Texas on Wednesday.
1.The number of the countries which have been reported on death cases of Ebola so far
mainly is_____.
A. 3. B. 4. C. 7. D. 8.
2. According to the UN special envoy, how long will it take to bring Ebola under control? _____.
A. a few days from now. B. six weeks.
C. about three months. D. the coming week.
3.What does the underlined word “diminishes” mean in the fifth paragraph? _____.
A. increases B. decreases
C. varies D. disappears
4.Which of the following statements is NOT true according to the passage? _____.
A. Ebola is spread by direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or animal.
B. Most death cases of Ebola have occurred in the west African countries of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone.
C. Checks at airports in Chicago, Washington, and Atlanta will begin in the coming days.
D. The screening system is being introduced by the first person to be diagnosed.
