伴随疫情而来的社交隔离措施给人们的生活带来了许多不便，但是NBC的记者发现，实施社交隔离之后，包括流感在内的其他呼吸道传染病的发病率也下降了。
Photo by Jordan Hopkins on Unsplash
According to NBC News’ Medical Correspondent Dr. John Torres, there appears to be a ‘silver lining’ to global social distancing measures.
美国全国广播公司新闻部的医疗记者约翰·托雷斯博士称，全球的社交隔离措施似乎带来了一线光明。
He surmises these new habits could be driving down diseases.
他猜测这些新习惯可能会降低一些疾病的发病率。
surmise[sɝ'maɪz]: vi. 猜测;认为
"Around the world, people have had to adapt to life with different public health restrictions in place,” he said. “Now we are starting to see that these measures, including social distancing, are also helping against the flu and other infectious diseases.”
他说：“在世界各地，人们都必须适应不同公共卫生限制条规下的生活。现在我们开始发现，包括社交隔离在内的这些措施也有助于抵御流感和其他传染病。”
Torres points to Australia as an example of the disease-lowering impact.
托雷斯指出，澳大利亚就是防疫措施导致疾病减少的一个例子。
"Australia is now in its winter months when flu is most rampant,” he explained. “But early figures show influenza rates are at a record low. Hospitals are usually overwhelmed with cases, but are seeing less admissions for this time of year.”
他解释道：“澳大利亚现在进入了流感最猖獗的冬季，但早期数据显示，流感发病率降到了史上最低水平。往年医院在这个时候通常都会被流感患者挤爆，但今年因流感而住院的人却减少了。”
He goes on to say there is more evidence coming from other countries.
他接着说道，还有来自其他国家的更多证据。
"Canada and the UK are also reporting exceptionally low levels of influenza,” he pointed out. “In China, where lockdown measures were first widely enforced, mumps and measles have also declined.”
他指出：“加拿大和英国报告的流感率也特别低。在最早广泛实施封锁措施的中国，腮腺炎和麻疹的发病率也降低了。”
Photo by Mateusz Glogowski on Unsplash
He says there is a simple explanation for these new statistics.
他表示，这些新的统计数据可以简单地解释清楚。
"Like coronavirus, flu, measles and mumps are mainly transmitted in respiratory droplets and airborne particles,” he stated. “So it makes sense the widespread use of masking, hand washing, and social distancing are working against other respiratory viruses as well.”
他说道：“像新冠病毒、流感、麻疹和腮腺炎这样的疾病主要通过呼吸道飞沫和空气悬浮颗粒进行传播。因此广泛使用口罩、勤洗手和社交隔离也能抵御其他呼吸道病毒是讲得通的。”
Looking toward the future, Torres recommends keeping these measures in place.
放眼未来，托雷斯建议保持这些防疫措施不放松。
"Now this could also mean that if we continue to be vigilant and use these measures, we could have a mild flu season this year,” he imparted.
托雷斯透露说：“这也意味着，如果我们继续保持警觉和采取这些措施，今年的流感季就不会太严重。”
英文来源：美国全国广播公司新闻网
