Temperature drive to go nationwide

The nation still needs to remain vigilant against the epidemic although the disease appears to be gradually coming under control, said Director-General of the Department of Health (DOH) Chen Chien-jen (陳建仁) yesterday.

While no deaths were reported over the past two days, Chen said an average number of less than four probable SARS were found over the past six days.

As of yesterday, the number of probable SARS cases nationwide reached 676, nine higher than the previous day's figure. The number of deaths stood at 81.

As the campaign starts, the Cabinet's SARS-prevention committee suggested people check their temperature at least twice a day.

If people find their forehead or armpit temperature higher than 37.5?C,or their ear or anal temperature higher than 38?C, they should seek medical treatment.

The public can also call 177 -- a hot line provided by medical associations to give professional advice concerning fever, the committee said.

"The temperature-checking measure is not compulsory. We hope to encourage and educate the public to follow the measure spontaneously," said Lee Ming-liang (李明亮), co-chairman of the committee.

Before the campaign was launched, some residents of the Ta-an District asked to have their temperature checked by their borough warden yesterday afternoon.

"Their response to the measure was very good," said Sarah Yu (余星華), chief of Ta-an District, who stayed at a borough warden's office to see dozens of residents' temperature checked by their borough warden.

The Ta-an District consists of 53 boroughs. Yu said the Ministry of the Interior (MOI) distributed two ear thermometers to each borough warden. The wardens are in charge of less than 5,000 households.

Borough wardens who are responsible for more than 5,000 households are given three ear thermometers. The city government also gave each borough warden two ear thermometers, Yu said.

Borough wardens wear gloves and respirators to protect themselves while checking their residents' temperatures.

If anyone's ear temperature is found to be higher than 38?C, borough wardens have to call an ambulance and report the cases to the DOH, Yu said.

In southern Taiwan, governmental agencies also geared up to prepare for the temperature-checking campaign.

The administrative office of San Min, Kaohsiung City's biggest district with 88 boroughs, said every borough warden has received two to five ear thermometers depending on the population of the borough.

"We have distributed 206 ear thermometers. Borough wardens received four boxes of probe covers along with each ear thermometer," an official at the administrative office said.

In order to encourage citizens to get their temperature checked, the Kaohsiung City Government proposed rewards for those who faithfully check their temperature daily from today until June 10.

"The city government said if people spontaneously ask for campaign brochures, check and record their temperature for 10 days, they can join a prize drawing," said a staffer at San Min's Paotai Borough office.

The city government's drawing offers various prizes, with the highest reward standing at NT$1 million.

"But I don't think the city government's reward plan is wise. If people just forge temperatures on their record cards, who can tell whether they have actually checked their temperature?" the staffer asked.