Flu Jab

2015/02/12 10:12:23 網誌分類: 生活

12 Feb

         Did you get a flu jab this year? I get one every year but this year's flu jab is not as effective as those in previous years. The World Health Organization made a mistake in predicting what type of flu virus would affect the northern hemisphere this winter. This year's jab, therefore, has only about 30 percent protection against the flu. That is why so many people are dying from the flu this year. I think it is still worth having a jab because 30 percent protection against the flu is better than no protection at all. The word "flu" is short for influenza. The word "jab" can be used in different ways. When used in boxing, it means a quick, sharp punch. A jab also means poking someone with something sharp, such as the pointed end of a stick. A jab also means getting an injection.

        　　The word "hemisphere" used this way means one half of the earth. Hong Kong is in both the northern and eastern hemispheres. This winter's influenza virus has killed about 150 people in Hong Kong already. Many people are worried about catching the flu. That's why people wearing face masks is a common sight nowadays. I see people wearing face masks every time I travel on the MTR. To "catch the flu" means to get the flu. It is more common to say "catch a cold" than "get a cold". Something that you see everywhere is a common sight. For example, it is a common sight to see people looking at their mobile phones.

        　　Doctors and government health officials have urged people to avoid crowded places to reduce their risk of catching the flu. That is easier said than done. The expression "easier said than done" means it is easy to say you want to do something but hard to actually do it. For example, becoming a movie star is easier said than done. Hong Kong is an overcrowded city. The MTR is always overcrowded but most people rely on it. Therefore, avoiding crowded places is easier said than done.

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         你今年可有打流感針（flu jab）？我每年也有打針，但今年的流感針（flu jab）就不及往年般有效了。世界衞生組織錯誤預測今個冬季是哪一種流感病毒會影響北半球（hemisphere）。因此，今年的疫苗針（jab），只有三成預防流感（flu）的效力。因此今年有那麼多人死於流感（flu）。不過，我認為仍是值得打針（jab）的，因為有三成預防流感（flu）的效用，聊勝於無。Flu是流行性感冒 influenza的簡稱。Jab這個字，則可以有幾種用法。當用於拳術時，它解作一個快而狠的痛擊。A jab也可解作用尖銳的東西，例如竹枝的尖端，刺或戳某人。A jab也指注射。

        　　Hemisphere在此解作地球的一半。香港處於北半球（hemispheres）和東半球（hemispheres）。今個冬天的流感病毒，在香港已經奪去約一百五十人的生命。許多人都擔心自己會患上流感（catching the flu），因此現在人們戴上口罩，是很普遍的現象（common sight）。我每次乘港鐵時，都會見到有人戴口罩。To "catch the flu" 就是染上流感，我們更常說"catch a cold" 多於"get a cold"。Common sight就是常見或司空見慣的現象。例如，人們常常盯着自己的手機看，這已是司空見慣（common sight）。

        　　醫生和政府的衞生官員都力勸眾人避開人多的地方，減低感染流感（catching the flu）的風險。這真是說易行難（easier said than done）。習語easier said than done是指，你要說你想做甚麼是容易的，要真正實踐卻很困難。譬如，要成為一位電影明星，就是說易行難（easier said than done）了。香港是個擁擠不堪的城市，港鐵也是長期過份擠逼，但大部份人也需要倚賴它。因此，要避開人多的地方，實在說易行難（easier said than done）。mickchug@gmail.com

        中譯:七刻

        Michael Chugani 褚簡寧

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