VOA慢速英语 世卫组织接近宣布甲型流感大规模流行

　　As of Tuesday officials had not yet announced a change from phase five. But Doctor Fukuda said the public should understand what a pandemic means.

　　KEIJI FUKUDA: "By going to phase six, what this would mean is that the spread of the virus is continued and that activity has become established in at least two regions of the world. It does not mean that the severity of the situation has increased or that people are getting seriously sick at higher numbers or higher rates than they are right now."

　　Doctor Fukuda, an acting assistant director-general, said the W.H.O. has been working with the member states to prepare for a pandemic. Scientists are working on vaccines to protect against the new virus. Governments have been gathering supplies of anti-viral drugs.

　　But public health officials have also had to consider the risks if the public overreacts to a pandemic declaration. Doctor Fukudapointed out that hospitals might quickly fill with people who are worried but not especially sick. Then hospitals might not be able to care for other patients who really do need help.

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