教甄◆英文科題庫下載題庫

     The threat of emergent infectious diseases jumped high onto that list 20 years ago, when an outbreak of plague in India created a (65.) , sending about 200,000 people fleeing. The next year in Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ebola killed about 245 people. With fears of cross-border infections high, a new urgency arose: improving the world’s ability to stop outbreaks. 

     The W.H.O. took the lead, at the request of its member nations. A crew of passionate outbreak veterans (66.) a unique department, using an early form of electronic crowdsourcing to detect outbreaks and dispatching experts to the field. Three years after the effort solidified, the W.H.O. played a big role in responding to a cluster of deadly pneumonia cases in Asia. The new virus became known as SARS, and it was contained within the year, with most cases occurring in China. 

     Soon, the global financial crisis struck. The W.H.O. had to cut nearly $1 billion from its proposed two-year budget, which today stands at $3.98 billion. The cuts forced difficult choices. More emphasis was placed (67.) efforts like fighting chronic global ailments, including heart disease and diabetes. The whims of donor countries, foundations and individuals also greatly influenced the W.H.O.'s agenda, with gifts, often to advance specific causes, far (68.) dues from member nations, which account for only 20 percent of its budget.