First vaccine for dengue

“Dean Fung English”

By Victor Fung

First vaccine for dengue shows promise in trials May 30, 2014

A four-in-one （4合1）vaccine （疫苗）against the mosquito-borne dengue fever （登革熱病）- the scourge （折磨）that puts at risk (note 1) 1.8 billion people in Asia alone - could be available （有效的）for the first time as early as next year.

Sanofi Pasteur, a unit of French firm Sanofi, said its vaccine, which is made from a live dengue virus （病毒）and delivered under the skin, is able to protect children against the four closely related viruses transmitted by (note 2) the Aedes mosquito.

A late-stage trial (note 3) involving 10,000 children aged two to 14 in Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia showed a significant（顯著）reduction of 56 percent of dengue cases, Sanofi announced yesterday.

The company is awaiting（等待）results of a similar trial on 20,000 children in several Latin America countries.

It said initial safety data are consistent with (note 4) the "good safety profile" observed in earlier trials（試驗）.

Dengue fever is marked by a skin rash（皮疹）, sudden onset of fever (note 5), severe headache and muscle pain and can be deadly, especially if a person is infected a second time. A full analysis of (note 6) the trial data will be undertaken in the coming weeks and reviewed by external experts.

Meanwhile, over 2,400 local residents flocked to the Hong Kong Jockey Club Tuen Mun Public Riding School's 20th Anniversary Open Day on May 18 to learn about horses and equestrian sport through a series of equine-themed fun activities.

The Jockey Club has funded the establishment of three public riding schools in Hong Kong.

From good to better English:

(note 1) puts at risk=帶來風險。puts=放進、使貼近、做成；put oneself out of the way=自找麻煩；risk=危險、冒險、被保險人。

(note 2) transmitted by=通過傳播。transmitted=傳送、送達、透射、留傳、傳染；metals transmit electricity=金屬傳電；glass transmits light=玻璃透光。

(note 3) A late-stage trial=一個後期試驗。late=遲、晚、前任的；stage=講臺、鏡臺、階段；stage a comeback=捲土重來；trial=預賽、考驗、審判。

(note 4) consistent with=一致的。consistent=協調的、相容的、堅定的；a policy consistent with public good=符合公眾利益的政策。

(note 5) sudden onset of fever=突然發燒。sudden=忽然的、急劇的；onset=攻擊、突擊、開始；fever=熱病、狂熱、興奮。

(note 6) A full analysis of=完整的分析。full=充滿的、豐富的、完美的；analysis=分解、解析、梗概；under analysis=在精神分析治療下。

Victor’s view:

It is great news to learn that a vaccine against the mosquito-borne dengue fever might be available as early as 2015.

HK Comment P09	中國日報香港版	Fung Keung 2014-05-28
Politicians, brush up your English!
Many local politicians try to show off their English language skills in open forums and Legislative Council meetings. Nevertheless, their English proficiency, for lack of a better word, “sucks”. They should refrain from using English and stick to Cantonese — as both English and Cantonese are official languages of Hong Kong. High-school students listen to the radio and watch TV news or public affairs programs as “liberal studies” is a compulsory subject in Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examination. They listen to news programs almost on a daily basis. Young office workers also watch English TV news to understand what is going on in society and improve their communication with co-workers and bosses. Unfortunately, and sadly to say, many local politicians (district council and Legislative Council members) cannot speak fluent or grammatically correct English and quite often they mislead our young with their poor English. Why can’t they just quit and stick to speaking Cantonese? Is it a “inflated ego” issue? Some of this “band” of poor English-speaking politicians reject criticism and advice from people like me, who depends on teaching English for a living. They insist that there is nothing wrong with speaking English with a strong local Cantonese or Putonghua accent. This is red herring. The problem is not their accents. The real problem is that they don’t use the correct pronunciation and grammar. Simply put, they don’t have a clue of proper English usage. Radio Television Hong Kong’s English-broadcasting channel Radio 3 has a morning news program between 8.30 am and 9.30 am, in which many politicians are interviewed by phone to discuss current issues. Many a time people in the audience, like me, who listen to this popular current affairs program hear statements like “the woman hawker and his husband” or “students don’t study books harder”. For the sake of not misleading our young, if the politicians’ English is not good enough, they shouldn’t speak it on public occasions. I don’t mind if they speak it at private dinners or their friends’ birthday parties. Coincidentally, many of these poor English speakers, in order to boost their own confidence and try to impress the public, often call themselves Dr A or Dr B. When one looks closer, the doctorate is an honorary degree from an unknown institution in North America or Europe. In the West, people with honorary degrees never call themselves Dr A or Dr B. Only some shameless Hong Kong people would do so. I am a teacher and am passionate about teaching English. I suffer when I hear my students pick up some of these politicians’ lousy English expressions. Some politicians try to impress government officials, other politicians and the public that they can speak the English language, they have no shame in blurting out sentences such as “I will do my breast”. Confident politicians don’t have to speak English to show off or impress their colleagues. Only those who speak poor English use the language to boost their image. But it backfires. They should be ashamed of misleading our young and setting a bad example. They are well-advised to be charitable and refrain from such displays. Jasper Tsang Yok-sing, president of the Legislative Council, should consider setting up a committee to review meeting procedures with a view to establishing a requirement that the 70 council members can only speak in English if they pass a certain standard (e.g. obtaining a 6.5 score or above in the popular IELTS [International English Language Testing System]). I know this is a sensitive issue but for the benefit of our future generations, it’s time to take the bull by the horns. The author is coordinator of the B.S.Sc in financial journalism program at Hong Kong Baptist University. (his email: deanfungenglish@gmail.com)

I must apologize to my fans as I didn't upload anything for almost a year. Now that I don't have a full-time job, I can afford to upload more stuff onto this site. Pls spread the word.

1. I run an English writing group on Sat from 10am to noon. (My email is deanfungenglish@gmail.com)
2. I'd polish essays and theses for AD, undergrad and graduate students from now on. There isn't conflict of interest as I am no longer a full-time staff of HKBU.

Stay in touch and please help promote my service. Thanks for helping me pay the rent.

Victor Fung
May 27, 2014