The global pandemic that is Influenza H1N1, more commonly known as swine flu, continues its rapid and virulent spread. The World Health Organisation reported the number of infected people to have reached 9,830 across 40 countries.

The virus, which is thought to have originated in Mexico, has now spread as far south as Australia and as far east as Japan. With over 170 reported cases, Japan has one of the highest instances of infection in Asia.

In response, Japan, like many other badly infected regions, has tried to contain any further spread of the virus. One measure taken has been the temporary closure of 4,000 schools, colleges and nurseries in and around Hyogo and Osaka.

Students have been advised to stay at home until further notice but a few restless individuals have found a more entertaining and musical way to spend their new-found free time.

It appears some Japanese students are not spending their time worrying about the virus, but spending it practising their singing instead.

In fact, a few karaoke club owners in Japan have reported record numbers of customers. One club manager told the AFP news agency: "We suddenly had a number of high school students after 2pm yesterday, right after the announcement that schools would close for a week."

Neither students nor club owners appear overly worried about the virus. So just how concerned should they be?

Well, according to a recent statement from Dr Margaret Chan, Director General of the World Health Organization:

"With the exception of the outbreak in Mexico, which is still not fully understood, the H1N1 virus tends to cause very mild illness in otherwisehealthy people. Outside Mexico, nearly all cases of illness, and all deaths, have been detected in people with underlyingchronic conditions."

• mexico [´meksikəu]   n.墨西哥   (初中英语单词)
• contain [kən´tein]   v.包含；容纳；抑制   (初中英语单词)
• measure [´meʒə]   n.量度；范围 vt.测量   (初中英语单词)
• restless [´restləs]   a.没有休息的   (初中英语单词)
• musical [´mju:zikəl]   a.音乐的；悦耳的   (初中英语单词)
• manager [´mænidʒə]   n.经理；管理人；干事   (初中英语单词)
• agency [´eidʒənsi]   n.代理商；机构；代理   (初中英语单词)
• yesterday [´jestədi]   n.&ad.昨天；前不久   (初中英语单词)
• director [di´rektə]   n.指导者；....长；导演   (初中英语单词)
• exception [ik´sepʃən]   n.例外；反对，异议   (初中英语单词)
• illness [´ilnis]   n.生病，不健康，疾病   (初中英语单词)
• otherwise [´ʌðəwaiz]   ad.另外 conj.否则   (初中英语单词)
• healthy [´helθi]   a.健康的   (初中英语单词)
• commonly [´kɔmənli]   ad.一般地；通常   (高中英语单词)
• infection [in´fekʃən]   n.感染，影响   (高中英语单词)
• response [ri´spɔns]   n.回答；响应   (高中英语单词)
• temporary [´tempərəri]   a.暂时的 n.临时工   (高中英语单词)
• announcement [ə´naunsmənt]   n.通告；宣布；言谈   (高中英语单词)
• concerned [kən´sə:nd]   a.有关的；担心的   (高中英语单词)
• outbreak [´autbreik]   n.(战争等的)爆发   (高中英语单词)
• influenza [,influ´enzə]   n.流行性感冒   (英语六级单词)
• underlying [,ʌndə´laiiŋ]   a.基础的；下层的   (英语六级单词)
• chronic [´krɔnik]   a.慢性的；剧烈的   (英语六级单词)