Tuberculosis
This forgotten disease is still a big problem 結核病 這種為人淡忘的疾病仍 是一大問題
This disease spreads through the air, infects billions and is increasingly difficult to treat. While it might sound like something from a sci-fi movie, tuberculosis, or TB, is unfortunately all too real.


Today people in the developed world usually see the symptoms of TB -fever, fatigue, and coughing up blood - in movies and dramas. That's because TB is not evenly distributed around the world. Most common in Africa and Southeast Asia, it particularly affects those who are sick, poor and have little access to healthcare.


While most common in the developing world.  TB is far from uncommon elsewhere. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that on-third of the world's population is infected with the bacteria that cause TB. Fortunately, in most people the body isolates the bacteria, so the infection remains dormant for years - often never developing into the disease. All this changes, though, when an infected person's immune system is compromised. As a result, people who are sick, use drugs or have a very low body weight are also at higher risk of developing TB.


Until 50 years ago, there were no effective medicines for the treatment of tuberculosis. While all of that changed with the introduction of antibiotics, antibiotic resistance is rapidly becoming a problem in the fight against TB. At this point, antibiotic-resistant TB can often still be treated. Unfortunately, doing so requires the use of expensive antibiotic, often with negative side effects, for up to two years. Experts suggest that the best way to deal with this problem is prevention. Education is needed to ensure doctors prescribe the right medicines. In addition, patients must not stop taking their medicine as soon as they feel better.

While the fight against TB is a difficult one, there is hope. Though millions of people contract TB each year, the disease is actually becoming less common. Much of this is due to a combination of factors. Governmental and non-governmental agencies are targeting TB like never before. This has led to improved access to basic healthcare and medicines for those who are most affected. It has also increased awareness of the risks of TB and effective ways to avoid it.


Vocabulary Tips:
infect -germs pass on from people to people, or animal to animal. 感染。
*The doctor advised me to stay home so I wouldn't infect my colleagues.
*Thousands of people were infected with this deadly disease.
distribute -分派，分配，分发，分布。"dis " -分开
*Volunteers are distributing food and medical supplies to refugees.
*The board members will decide how the budge will be distributed.
infect with - 对某种疾病感染用"with"
Sci-fi -make up the science story .
elsewhere - also in other area or place.
isolate - separate from other things. would not mix up with other things.
dormant -静止的，潜伏的，隐匿的。Stay there, it could happen later.
compromise - (vt) does not function the way supposed to be. 损坏，连累。
*The company's image was compromised by the case.
compromise -(vi) 当 不及物动词时， 是“妥协”， 折衷，和解，让步。调停。
*William had no choice but to compromise with his boss on his project idea.
*Peter is a righteous man, he would not compromise his principles.放弃，让步（他的原则。
"far from" - usually means "distance" but here means "certainly not, definitely not", definitely not in a certain way.
TB is far from uncommon elsewhere. 
contiguous-会传染的。
treatment - a way or a help to cure the problem.
antibiotic - a king of medicine or chemical that can kill the bacterial of your body.
resistance - 抵抗力，dika"resist"-against-抵抗。.
* A healthy diet can help build resistance against diseases.
*The cancer cells have developed a resistance to certain drugs.
side effect -other problem created from the medicine.副作用。
prevention -to stop it may happen beforehand. "pre"-"beforehand"
prescribe -开药方。 write down the treatment or medicine for patient. "scribe" - write.
*The doctor prescribed the patient some painkillers.
prescription (n)-医生开的处方籤 the paper with doctor instruction of the treatment or medicine.
*The doctor gave me prescriptions for antibiotic and vitamin C.
combination -put together, come mix together.混和，结合。
*Fusion food is a combination of cuisines  from different cultures.
* This medicine should never be taken in combination with alcohol.
factor -reason.
contract (v)- to get it.
targeting - focus on, pointing out.
access - has ability to get something.
due to - because of.


Chat Room:
spread -蔓延，传播。
spread the word.
Some deceases are spread by mosquitoes.
The news spread fast.
The news spread like wildfire.
spread oneself too thin - means that scheduled too tight that make oneself run out of energy.把自己时间精力分配到各处，分散的很薄。
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fight -交战，搏斗。
the fight against TB.
fight off -涤除，敌退，消灭。
fight off a cold -敌退感冒。
fight fire with fire - fight with the same way the anermies and opponents do.以火攻火，以某人之道还治其人之事。