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スラッシュ・リーディング添削指導　上級編英文テキスト

　International talks jointly hosted by Japan and the World Health Organization

opened Thursday in Tokyo to discuss how to contain a possible global pandemic

sparked by the spread of bird flu among humans.

　The two-day gathering of delegates from more than 30 nations mainly in Asia

and international organizations comes at a time when concerns are mounting

that the H5N1 strain of avian influenza, which has been spreading throughout

　Asia and has recently cropped up in Turkey, could change into a form that

could pass easily among humans and potentially kill millions of people. The

delegates are expected to discuss and recommend regional and international

response mechanism such as an early warning detection system for pandemic

operational support for early response efforts In Asia, organizers said.

　 “Rapid containment would include the use of antivirals to snuff out the

spread of the virus, plus possible public health measures such as quarantine,

restrictions on human movement and social distancing,” a WHO media advisory

said.
　
　The event is part of an international initiative aimed at increasing global

collaboration and coordination before a pandemic strikes.

A simulation by researchers on a new type of influenza showed Wednesday

that such a disease would spread dramatically via crowded trains.

　According to simulation, in a city with a population of 800,000, the number

of flu patients would peak in about 50 days after the infection of the first

person under usual circumstances. However, when crowed trains are factored

in, the number of flu patients can peak 20-40 days earlier and increase victims

overall by about 10 percent points.