WHO Warns Climate Change Endangers Human Health
世卫组织说气候变化危害人类健康

　 
The World Health Organization says climate change endangers human health and developing countries will be most at risk from the increasing spread of disease. The organization is marking World Health Day with a global call to action to help countries adapt to changing climate and reduce its negative health effects.

世界卫生组织说，气候变化对人类健康造成危害，特别是对发展中国家的危害更大，有可能会增加疾病的传播。世界卫生组织在纪念世界卫生日的这一天号召全球采取行动，帮助一些国家应付气候变化，并减少气候变化给人类健康带来负面影响。

WHO Director-General Margaret Chan provides a nightmarish scenario of the future under climate change. She notes more frequent drought will threaten food security. This will increase malnutrition, which already is responsible for 3.5 million deaths a year.

世界卫生组织总干事陈冯富珍描述了气候变化给人类未来带来的恶梦。她指出，更加频繁的干旱会威胁食品的安全，从而造成营养不良的增加，每年由营养不良造成的死亡人数达350万。

She says extreme weather events such as storms and floods will spread cholera, typhoid, diarrhea and other deadly diseases. Heat waves in urban areas will increase disability and death, mainly in elderly people.

她说，例如暴雨和洪水等天灾会传播霍乱、风寒、疟疾和其他致命的疾病。在城市地区的热浪会增加残疾和死亡率，特别在老龄人口中间。

Dr. Chan says vulnerable people in developing countries will be the first and the hardest hit from climate change.

陈冯富珍说，在发展中国家的弱势群体将是最先和最严重受到气候变化影响的群体。

"For example, just 12 years from now in 2020, crop yields in parts of Africa are expected to drop by half. As another example, women and young girls in parts of Asia currently spend from six to nine hours collecting water. Climate change is adding an additional set of stresses in areas that are already fragile with marginal livelihoods and thin margins of survival."

陈冯富珍说：“比方说，12年以后，到2020年，在非洲的部分地区的庄稼可能会减少一半。另外一个例子，在亚洲的部分地区，妇女和一些年轻女孩目前要花6到9个小时的时间打水。对这些已经生活在弱势中和生存边缘的人来说，这些额外的压力会给这些地区的妇女带来更大的困难。”

The World Health Organization says climate change will bring positive and negative health impacts. It says the affects will depend on a country's location and other factors such as rainfall, humidity, and temperature. But, it says the overwhelming impact on health will be negative.

世界卫生组织说，气候变化能够为健康带来正面和负面的影响。他们说，这同一个国家的地理位置和其他因素有关，诸如降雨、湿度和气温。不过世界卫生组织说，但是，气候变化总的说来对健康的影响是负面的。

WHO Assistant Director-General for Health Security and Environment David Heymann says changing temperatures and patterns of rainfall are expected to alter the geographical distribution of insect vectors that spread infectious diseases. He says malaria and dengue are among the greatest public health concerns.

世界卫生组织负责健康安全与环境的助理总干事黑曼说，气温变化和降雨的形式预计会改变传播传染病的昆虫的分布。他说，疟疾和登革热是对公共卫生的最大威胁。

"Not only do these diseases occur, they then can get on airplanes or on ships and go to other parts of the world where the conditions are ripe for these diseases, where they have not been previously, but will begin transmission ... This is not itself due to climate change," he said. "But, this shows you that when climate changes do occur in one part of the world, the whole world will be at risk of climate change because of our globalized society."

黑曼说：“这些疾病不仅仅会发生，它们还会登上飞机或船只传到世界的其他地方，到那些条件适合这些疾病的地方，这些地区虽然以前从来没有流行过这类疾病，但是将会开始传播。这不是单单由气候变化引起的。但是，这告诉我们，当气候变化影响到世界的某一个地方，由于社会的全球化，整个世界都会受到影响。”

The World Health Organization says people in rich countries also will be affected by climate change. But, it notes the wealthier countries have better means to deal with the health risks than do the poorer countries.

世界卫生组织说，富裕国家的人也会受到气候变化的影响。但是，他们指出，富有的国家在应对健康威胁上比贫穷的国家有更好的方式。

The World Health Organization says preventive actions are needed to respond to the increased health threats. It says it is very important to establish early warning systems and to help nations strengthen their health systems.

世界卫生组织说，为应对健康威胁的增加，应该采取一些预防措施。世界卫生组织说，建立早期的预警系统和帮助一些国家加强保健系统非常重要。