澳大利亚确诊h1n1流感59人一托福阅读机经背景.pdf

智课网 TOEFL 备考资料 澳大利亚确诊 H1N1 流感 59 人一托福阅读机经背景 By Phil Mercer Sydney 27 May 2009 The number of H1N1 flu cases in Australia has doubled in the past day to 59. The federal government has warned that the H1N1 influenza A virus is spreading fast. Health experts say its rapid transmission coincides with the southern hemisphere's traditional winter flu season. The H1N1 flu has been confirmed in most Australian states and territories. The epicenter of the outbreak is in Victoria, where a group of children are among those being treated. Virus origin unkown Tests have yet to reveal if the infections in Australia have been imported from other countries or whether the virus has started to spread among those who have not traveled overseas. In New South Wales, health agencies have been criticized for not quarantining hundreds of passengers on board a cruise ship where 14 people were diagnosed with the virus, commonly known as swine flu. Although some of those who disembarked the vessel in Sydney had complained of being ill, they were allowed to travel home. Three crew members on the Pacific Dawn have shown flu-like symptoms. Authorities have diverted the cruise liner, which left Sydney bound for the Great Barrier Reef, to an island near the Queensland city of Cairns, where the patients will be tested for flu. The virus' spread in Australia has come at the start of the southern hemisphere's annual flu season. Country is preparing for flu season Professor Bill Rawlinson from Sydney's Prince of Wales hospital says the country is preparing for an onslaught. "It is of concern because as we go into winter that is when we see our peak of flu," Rawlinson said. "And I think that is why we are all gearing up to deal with this problem and why public health authorities as well as the laboratories as well as clinicians, emergency departments are all putting in place practices that have been developed over other outbreaks such as SARS