VOA慢速英语:Health Risks in a Crowd: Not What You May Think

Picture a huge public gathering -- a sea of people like the hajj to Mecca or an appearance by the pope. Think of the World Cup, the Olympics, a political event, a rock concert or a train station in Asia before the Lunar New Year.
想象一次巨大的公共集会的画面，例如麦加朝圣或教皇出现时的人山人海。想想世界杯、奥运会、一次政治活动、一场摇滚音乐会或者是亚洲农历新年的火车站。

When thousands or even millions of people get together, what do you suppose is the biggest health concern?
当数千或甚至数百万人聚在一起，你认为最大的健康问题是什么？

Traditionally, doctors and public health officials were most concerned about the spread of infectious diseases, like influenza. Robert Steffen, a researcher in Switzerland, says infectious diseases are still a concern. But he says injuries are a bigger threat at so-called mass gatherings.
传统上，医生和公共卫生官员最担心的是传染病，如流感蔓延。瑞士研究人员Robert Steffen称传染病仍是一大问题。但是他说，受伤是所谓大规模集会最大的威胁。

ROBERT STEFFEN: "The risk has actually been dominated by sprains or lacerations, or the mortality risk due to stampedes and heat exhaustion in periods of extreme heat."
ROBERT STEFFEN：“主要的风险实际上已经由扭伤或撕裂伤，或者是踩踏死亡风险，或者是酷热时期的中暑等占据。”

Mr. Steffen is a professor of travel medicine at the University of Zurich. He is the lead author of one of several new papers about health problems at mass gatherings in the journal Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Steffen先生是苏黎世大学旅行医学教授。 他是《柳叶刀传染病》杂志上发表的数篇关于大规模集会健康问题的论文中一篇的主要作者。

Professor Steffen says children and older people have the highest risk of injury or other health problems at these events. He says children are more at risk of getting crushed in stampedes, while older people are at higher risk from extreme heat.
Steffen教授称，儿童和老人在这些活动中受伤或其它健康问题的风险最高。他说，儿童在踩踏事件中更容易被踩踏致死，而老人最容易因酷热中暑。

ROBERT STEFFEN: "At the hajj, it’s particularly senior adults who attend, and so they have great risk of suffering of heat stroke and of dying."
ROBERT STEFFEN：“在麦加朝圣中，尤其是老年人的参与，所以他们中暑和死亡的风险很大。”

Stampedes and crushing at mass gatherings have caused an estimated seven thousand deaths over the past thirty years.
大规模集会的踩踏事件在过去30年估计已经导致7000人死亡。

The design of an area can play a part. There may be narrow passages or other choke points that too many people try to use at once. Professor Steffen says the mood of a crowd can also play a part.
一个区域的设计可以发挥作用。可能会有许多人试图同时使用的狭窄通道或其它咽喉要道。Steffen教授称，人群的情绪也可以发挥作用。

ROBERT STEFFEN: "If suddenly they get agitated, for instance, firework is being launched within a football stadium, then they get very much afraid and try to escape."
ROBERT STEFFEN：“如果他们的情绪突然变得激动，例如，足球场放起烟花，然后他们非常害怕并试图逃跑。”
He says organizers of large gatherings need to avoid creating conditions that might lead to panic, stampedes and heat stroke. And he says they must be ready to give medical care.
他说，大型集会组织者必须避免可能导致恐慌、踩踏和中暑的情况，而他说，他们必须随时准备提供医疗护理。

So what advice does he have for people attending a large gathering? First, get any needed vaccinations before traveling. Then, stay away from any large mass of people as much as possible. Also, be careful with alcohol and drugs, which can increase the risk of injuries.
因此，他要给参加大型集会的人们什么建议呢？首先，在出行前需要接种疫苗。然后，尽可能远离大型人群。此外，要谨慎用酒精和药物，这可能会增加受伤的危险。