ICRC Disinfects Houses to Counter Cholera in Zimbabwe
红十字会为津住宅消毒防霍乱蔓延

　 
The International Committee of the Red Cross said it has begun disinfecting homes in Zimbabwe's capital in an effort to battle the cholera epidemic. Red Cross officials said the number of cases is soaring and more needs to be done to halt the spread of the disease.

国际红十字委员会表示，该组织开始对津巴布韦首都哈拉雷的住宅进行消毒，以抗击霍乱疫情，据信这种流行病已经夺走1100多人的生命。红十字官员说，霍乱病例正在急速增加，需要采取更多的措施控制疾病蔓延。

The United Nations reported there now are more than 20,000 cases of cholera and more than 1,100 deaths from the disease in Zimbabwe. The largest number of cases have been in the capital, Harare.

联合国报告说，津巴布韦现在有两万多个霍乱病例，1100多人死亡。津巴布韦首都哈拉雷的死亡人数最多。

That is one of the principal reasons the International Committee of the Red Cross is mounting its disinfecting campaign there.

这是国际红十字委员会在哈拉雷进行消毒的主要原因之一。

Red Cross Spokeswoman, Anna Schaaf, said the Red Cross has been providing assistance to cholera victims since the outbreak of the disease in August. But, she said, it has decided to broaden its response to prevent more people from becoming infected.

红十字会发言人安娜.夏芙说，自从津巴布韦8月爆发霍乱疫情以来，红十字会一直在为霍乱病人提供帮助。不过她说，红十字会决定扩大应对霍乱的措施，防止更多的人染病。

"We are basically joining forces now with health workers from Beatrice hospital and Budiriro Polyclinic in Harare to go to the homes of those who are patients in those clinics and disinfect the homes and talk to the communities in the suburbs of Harare in order to explain to them how they can avoid getting infected. So, we are spraying the homes and basically trying to break the transmission cycle of the cholera bacteria," she said.

夏芙说：“我们现在基本上跟哈拉雷的比阿特利斯医院和比迪利罗综合医院的医务人员一道去病人的家里，对他们的房子进行消毒，并向哈拉雷城郊社区讲解避免感染霍乱的知识。所以，我们正在对住户喷洒消毒剂，争取从根本上阻断霍乱传播循环。”

Schaaf said toilets, blankets and clothing are being sprayed with a chlorine-based disinfectant.

夏芙说，用针对霍乱的消毒液给卫生间、毯子和衣物消毒。

Zimbabwe's crumbling health care system has faced difficulty dealing with the crisis, which President Robert Mugabe's government has blamed on the West. Earlier this month, the president denied there was a cholera outbreak, but officials have since said that he was being sarcastic.

津巴布韦陷入瘫痪的卫生系统在应对这场危机中遇到困难，穆加贝总统的政府认为是西方国家造成的。这个月早些时候，穆加贝否认爆发霍乱疫情，不过有关官员此后说，他是以讽刺的口吻说的这番话。

In addition to disinfecting the homes, she said Red Cross staff and city health workers are advising the families of patients and neighborhood residents on how to avoid catching the disease. She said aid workers also take people who have contracted cholera to treatment centers.

除了对住处进行消毒之外，夏芙说，红十字会工作人员和哈拉雷的医务人员一道向病人家属和左邻右舍的居民进行宣传，教他们预防措施。夏芙说，援助人员还把病患送到治疗中心。

In the coming days, she said aid workers will distribute water-purification tablets, buckets and soap to promote sanitation in affected communities. The ICRC also is providing protective clothing, as well as other supplies and transportation for people working in this campaign.

夏芙说，今后几天援助人员将向爆发疫情的社区分发净水药片、水桶和肥皂，让人们注意卫生。红十字会还向参加宣传行动的人员提供防护服装等物资以及交通工具。

Cholera can spread from contaminated water and bad sanitation. This week, the Red Cross donated pumps, water-testing equipment and spare parts to the Zimbabwe National Water Authority.

霍乱可以经由受到污染的水和不良的卫生环境传播。这个星期，红十字会向津巴布韦国家水务部门捐赠了水泵、化验水的设备，以及维修配件。

The main water-treatment plant serves Harare and the surrounding area. The Red Cross said the equipment will improve the plant's efficiency.

这家主要的水处理厂负责处理哈拉雷以及周边地区的水处理。红十字会表示，这些验水设备会提高这家水处理厂的效率。