VOA常速英语2015--韩国向游客提供MERS保险

South Korea to Offer MERS Insurance to Tourists 韩国向游客提供MERS保险

SEOUL—

South Korea’s tourism industry is in damage control mode following the outbreak of the Middle East Respiratory Disease (MERS) that has caused thousands of international visitors to change or cancel planned visits. Rather than minimizing the threat, Seoul officials are emphasizing efforts being taken to protect the health of tourists who visit the country.

What Is MERS?

First identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, Middle East respiratory syndrome 1 (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease.

Originates from a virus that can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

Symptoms include fever, cough and shortness of breath; may advance to pneumonia 2, gastrointestinal symptoms, diarrhea

Approximately 36 percent of reported MERS patients die

Most human cases of MERS have been attributed to human-to-human infections, but the virus does not seem to pass easily from person to person unless there is close contact.

Source: WHO

The MERS outbreak in South Korea has scared away international tourists by the thousands. Kim Chulmin with the Ministry 3 of Tourism said if the drop off continues through the summer, the industry could lose over $900 million in expected revenue. “So let’s say we have a reduction of 20 percent of tourists from June, July and August, that would be 820,00 people not coming to Korea,” he said.

韩国的MERS疫情吓走了成千上万的国际游客。旅游部有的金敏珠表示如果夏季游客的数字继续下降，整个行业预计可能造成9亿美元的损失。“我们这样说，6月,7月及8月减少20%的游客,就是说820,00人不来韩国。”

While President Park Geun-hye’s government was initially 4 criticized for being slow to respond to the threat, it has since taken strong measures, closing off some hospitals where MERS had spread, quarantining thousands of people who might have been exposed to the virus, and increasing health monitoring at airports, train stations and bus terminals.

而总统朴槿惠的政府起初曾被指责面临疾病威胁反应迟钝,而那之后已采取了强力措施,关闭了一些MERS疫情传播的医院,隔离可能已暴露病毒成千上万的人,并在机场，火车站及汽车站增加健康监测。

The number of new infections is now decreasing, but it is unclear when the economy will recover.

新感染的人数虽然现在已经减少,但经济何时复苏目前尚不清楚。

Low attendance at public events

Attendance at public events and retail 5 sales are still down but these domestic industries will likely rebound 6 once the public health threat is over.

公众活动出席率及零售业仍然下降，但一旦公共卫生威胁消失这些国内产业可能会反弹。

As for tourism, officials are trying to reassure 7 international visitors that South Korea is safe. They emphasize that the virus has been contained to specific hospitals and is not in areas where tourists usually go.

至于旅游业,官员正试图安抚国际游客称韩国相当安全。他们强调,该病毒已限制在了特定的医院,而不是游客通常会前往的地区。

The Ministry of Tourism is also providing hand sanitizers at tourist attractions and has instituted a hotline in four languages to deal with any MERS issues.

旅游部也在旅游景点提供洗手液,并设立了一条四种语言的热线处理任何疫情相关的事情。

And the government will offer free traveler insurance that will cover all medical costs if a visitor contracts MERS.

而且政府将为游客们提供免费的旅行保险涵盖所有医疗费用。

“The South Korean Government is creating an atmosphere where tourists can travel without anxiety,” said Kim.

“韩国政府力图创造一种游客可以在不担惊受怕的情况下旅行的氛围。”

While these measures may have some impact, it will likely take time for apprehension 8 over the outbreak to fade before the tourism industry can fully 9 recover.

虽然这些措施可能会有一些影响,但旅游业完全恢复前可能会需要一些时间理解疾病已不再流行。