世界衛生組織（WHO）警告，今年以來，高傳染性的（contagious）麻疹確診人數較去年同期暴增逾3倍，非洲也超過7倍；美國病患人數創下25年來最高紀錄，亞洲的日本、菲律賓疫情似乎一觸即發。暑假將至，全球政府莫不高聲疾呼自發接種疫苗。 【麻疹危機淺談】 ■contagious 接觸傳染的 A：Measles is so contagious that large outbreaks have recently been reported in many countries. （麻疹傳染力超強，最近許多國家都報導大爆發現象。） B：When exposed to the virus, up to 90% of people who are not immune can catch it. （對病毒沒有免疫力的人一旦接觸，9成以上會被感染。） ■out of stock 缺貨 A：To keep herd immunity, the vaccination rate has to be around 95%, and in Taiwan it's 97%. （疫苗接種率達95%便能產生群體免疫力，而台灣竟高達97%。） B：In that case, we only need to worry if the vaccine supplies will run out of stock. （這樣一來，我們只需要擔心疫苗會不會缺貨就好了。） ■to discredit 證實……不正確 A：Interestingly, anti-vaxxers in the U.S. believe that measles vaccine is associated with autism in children. （有趣的是，美國反疫苗者深信麻疹疫苗會造成孩童自閉症。） B：The theory has been discredited long ago and the doctor who proposed it had his license revoked. （這理論早就被證實是錯的，而且提出此說的醫生已被取消執照。） 【延伸關鍵字】 1. to resurge：復甦、再現 2. to be susceptible to：易受影響的 3. misinformation：錯誤消息 多益時事通工作團隊獨家授權