致命真菌在美國和加拿大擴散

致命真菌在美國和加拿大擴散
Deadly fungus spreading across US and Canada
Saturday, August 28, 2010
by: Ethan A. Huff, staff writer

(NaturalNews) A research study out of Duke University has found that a dangerous mutated form of an airborne fungus called Cryptococcus gattii is spreading across the Northwest United States and some parts of Western Canada. The fungus, which typically only infects people with autoimmune disorders and compromised immune systems, now seems to be infecting healthy people as well, worrying experts.
（NaturalNews）一項出自杜克大學的調查研究發現，一種危險變種形式的空氣傳播真菌，稱為隱球菌 gattii，正在整個美國西北部和加拿大西部一些地區蔓延。那真菌過去典型地只感染有自身免疫性疾病和免疫系統受損的人，現在似乎亦感染健康人仕，令專家擔心。
Published in PLoS Pathogens, a journal of the Public Library of Science, the report explains that the new fungus is currently infecting people across the Pacific Northwest region and its scope is continuing to expand. Though the fungus was originally discovered in tropical and subtropical regions, it is somehow thriving in temperate regions far different than its native home.
發表在公共科學圖書館病原學，一份公共科學圖書館的期刊，那報告解釋，新的真菌目前在感染太平洋西北地區的人民，和它的範圍繼續在擴大。雖然真菌最初發現在熱帶和亞熱帶地區，它是在溫帶地區茁壯成長，遠有點不同於它的老家。
"Between 2003 and 2006, the outbreak expanded into neighboring mainland British Columbia and then into Washington and Oregon from 2005 to 2009. Based on this historical trajectory of expansion, the outbreak may continue to expand into the neighboring region of Northern California, and possibly further," explained Edmond Byrnes, author of the study.
“在2003年至2006年之間，爆發擴展到鄰近的大陸英屬哥倫比亞，和然後由2005至2009年到華盛頓州和俄勒岡州。基於這一歷史軌跡的擴大，疫情可能繼續擴大到鄰近的北加州地區，並可能更進一步。“研究的筆者愛德蒙伯恩斯解釋。
This particular strain is especially worrisome to researchers because it has a mortality rate of roughly 25 percent. And what originated on Vancouver Island has now become a regional threat, not to mention the fact that the disease is intensifying in severity. So experts are cautioning people to beware of it in order to catch symptoms early.
這種特殊的菌株研究人員尤其擔憂，因為它的死亡率約為百分之25，及起源於溫哥華島的它已經成為一種地區性威脅，更不要提的是，這種疾病嚴重程度在加劇。因此專家告誡人們小心提防它，以圖及早發現症狀。

Symptoms include a long-lasting cough, sharp chest pain, shortness of breath, headache, weight loss, fever and night sweats. Symptoms may not appear until weeks after exposure, and can affect even domestic animals and livestock.
症狀包括長期咳嗽、尖銳胸痛、氣短、頭痛、體重下降、發熱和盜汗。症狀可能不會出現直到接觸後數週，並能影響家居動物和牲畜。
According to a National Geographic report, six reasonably healthy people in Oregon have already died from the fungus, and more deaths are expected as the disease continues to spread.
據國家地理雜誌報導，祇在俄勒岡州六位合理健康人仕已經死於那真菌，和預計有更多的死亡因為疾病繼續蔓延。
The disease is contracted when fungal spores are inhaled. According to the British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, there's no approved treatment for the new deadly strain. Since it is a fungal infection, though, it cannot be transmitted from person to person.

Naturally-minded individuals may wish to research natural anti-fungal foods and herbs if they believe they might be infected, because there are substances that can help prevent or treat fungal infections. Maintaining a strong immune system through a superior diet that includes plenty of rest and proper exercise will also help to protect you from disease in general.

Sources for this story include:

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N22129903.htm

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/04/100421-new-fungus-cryptococcus-gattii-deadly-health-science/


http://www.naturalnews.com/029593_fungus_Canada.html