新型冠状(コロナ)ウィルスの勃発=the outbreak of a novel coronavirusが世界を脅かしています。

※novelは名詞で小説 形容詞で新しい種類の、奇抜な、いままでにない/(医学)〔ウイルスなどが〕新型の

Specter of possible new virus emerging from central China raises alarms across Asia(見出し)

※specter=幽霊、亡霊、こわいもの、恐ろしいもの

発生当初は、潜伏期間や感染力や無症状の人からの感染があるのか等、ほとんど知られていませんでした。

Very little is known about this virus, which for the moment carries the scientific name 2019-nCoV, meaning “novel coronavirus.” Scientists are racing to learn more. Key questions to answer are how long the incubation period is, how long someone is infectious, and whether or not people can be asymptomatic and spread the virus.

※incubation period=培養期間、潜伏期間⇒period of latency/latent period

※asymptomatic〔病気が〕身体に症状を現さない、無症状の⇒symptomless   

その後、人人感染=human-to-human transmission/person-to-person transmissionする事が判明。WHOは、このウイルスを原因とする病気の名称を「COVID-19」に、新型ウイルスを「SARS-CoV-2」と命名しました。

A newly identified coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (formerly 2019-nCoV) has been spreading.

最初の感染者は中国武漢の海鮮卸市場の関係者。他のコロナウィルスと同様、動物宿主(しゅくしゅ)は、bat(コウモリ)やdromedary(ヒトコブラクダ)等の可能性があります。

Like other coronaviruses, it has come from animals. Many of those infected either worked or frequently shopped in the Huanan seafood wholesale market(海鮮卸市場)in the center of the Chinese city, which also sold live and newly slaughtered(畜殺する) animals. New and troubling viruses usually originate in animal hosts(動物宿主). Ebola and flu are examples.

風邪に似た症状を引き起こしますが、ウィルス性肺炎には抗生物質等は効かず、回復は個々人の免疫力によります。

Those who have fallen ill are reported to suffer coughs, fever and breathing difficulties. In severe cases there can be organ failure(臓器不全). As this is viral pneumonia(ウィルス性肺炎), antibiotics(抗生物質) are of no use. The antiviral drugs we have against flu will not work. If people are admitted to hospital, they may get support for their lungs and other organs as well as fluids. Recovery will depend on the strength of their immune system(免疫). Many of those who have died are known to have been already in poor health.

春節時に拡大する恐れがあり、1100万の武漢市は1月23日に封鎖されました。各国はチャーター機 government-chartered evacuation flightで、武漢に暮らす自国民を避難させていました。=evacuate/whisk away

There were fears that the coronavirus might spread more widely during the week-long lunar new year holidays, which started on 24 January. On 23 January 2020, the central government of the People's Republic of China imposed a lockdown in Wuhan, Hubei in an effort to quarantine the epicenter of a newly discovered novel coronavirus to prevent an epidemic.

※lockdownは、元来〔刑務所内の〕封鎖。刑務所の暴動などの後に、安全のために囚人を監房に閉じ込める事。

通常、歩行者や自転車や車であふれている中国の大通りは不気味なまでに人っ子一人いなくなりました。

Major avenues in Beijing, normally teeming with pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles, are eerily empty.

※teem with=~で満ちあふれている

※eerily=薄気味悪いほど、不気味に

空港などには赤外線体温計を設置して、水際作戦を展開してます。

Infrared thermometers have been installed at airports, railway stations, long-distance bus stations and ferry terminals.

感染経路は主に飛沫感染=droplet infection ですが、マスクの買い占めで店の棚が空っぽになりました。

The mask hoarding has begun. 

※hoarding=貯蔵、買いだめ

Drug stores are scrambling to restock their supply of surgical masks to keep up with growing demand as fears deepen over the outbreak of the coronavirus.

※scramble=~を求めて奪い合う、争奪する

横浜港沖に停泊中のクルーズ船「ダイヤモンド・プリンセス」の乗船者から陽性反応を示し、多くの人が待機を強いられています。

Thousands of passengers and crew members on the "Diamond Princess" cruise ship were held on board after a recent passenger tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus.

※test positive=検査で陽性反応が出る ⇔陰性はnegative  

The government is asking all passengers and crew to stay inside their rooms as much as possible on the ship for 14 days from Wednesday as it continues screening.