WHO asks people not to attack monkeys over monkeypox

世界衛生組織要求民眾不要因為猴痘而攻擊猴子

【摘要2022.9.3.六.自由】◎周虹汶

With cases of monkeypox surging around the world, it’s not a good time to be a monkey.

隨著猴痘病例在全球竄升，現在不是當猴子的好時機。

The primates have, in recent days, been physically attacked — and even killed — by poisoning and stoning attacks in Brazil, according to local media reports that cite police officials.

這種靈長類最近在巴西屢遭攻擊，甚至被人用毒藥或投擲石頭攻擊殺害，根據當地媒體引述警方報導。

In the last week, at least 10 animals of the marmoset and capuchin types were found displaying signs of intoxication or aggression, leading to fears that they had been poisoned, according to Brazilian news site G1. Seven of the monkeys died, while the others are under observation at a zoo in São José do Rio Preto, a municipality in the state of São Paulo.

根據巴西新聞網站G1報導，在上週，至少10隻絨猿和卷尾猴類型的動物被發現有中毒或受攻擊的跡象，令人擔心牠們被下毒。當中7隻猴子死亡，其他的猴子則在聖保羅州的普雷圖河畔聖若澤市的一所動物園內接受觀察。

The assaults have led to the World Health Organization — which declared monkeypox a global health emergency last month — issuing a reminder that despite the virus’s name, monkeys should not be blamed for its transmission.

這類攻擊事件已促使上個月宣布猴痘為全球公共衛生緊急事件的世界衛生組織發布一個提醒，亦即儘管病毒的名稱是猴痘，但不該將猴痘的傳播歸咎於猴子。

新聞辭典

surge：動詞，（海浪）洶湧奔騰、猛衝、激增。例句：Due to an unexpected surge in temperatures, we will move the graduation party indoors.（因為氣溫意外升高，我們將把畢業晚會移到室內舉行。）

intoxication：名詞，陶醉、狂喜、中毒。例句：Symptoms of acute intoxication include unsteady gait, slurred speech and sustained nystagmus.（急性中毒的症狀包括步履不穩，說話含糊不清與持續眼球震顫。）

reminder：名詞。提示、注意、提醒的人或事物。例句： It is a reminder to us that there is a lot of work ahead.（它提醒我們，前方還有許多工作要做。）