■ SARS
Nation to sponsor meeting
Taiwan is slated to sponsor an international seminar on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) late this month, with about 400 foreign and local experts expected to take part, officials of the Department of Health said yesterday. Participants from Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, the Philippines and the US will discuss SARS-related issues at the international meeting slated for April 20 to April 21, the officials said, noting that they have not sent invitations to any academics or specialists in China.
■ Health
Enterovirus alert issued
With the advent of summer, the Department of Health has heightened its alert for a possible enterovirus outbreak, officials said yesterday. The department's Center for Disease Control has reported 54 enterovirus cases nationwide, with three deaths and 25 cases listed as "serious." In comparison, 33 serious cases were reported during the same period last year, six of which proved fatal. Health officials said central Taiwan has the largest number of reported cases so far. Enterovirus Type 71 was to blame for all three of this year's deaths, the officials said. Nearly all of the enterovirus patients are young children, including 17 who are aged between one and four years old.
■ Diplomacy
MOFA favors Washington
The US capital has been listed as the most favored transit site for President Chen Shui-bian's upcoming trip to Central and South America, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Michael Kau (高英茂) said yesterday. The foreign ministry's blueprint is to endeavor to push for Chen's transit in Washington, Kau told a legislative subcommittee yesterday in response to a question from PFP Legislator Sun Ta-chian (孫大千). Kau declined to reveal details of Chen's trip, dubbing it "politically sensitive." The US has banned the nation's top leaders from visiting Washington, including the president, vice president, foreign minister and defense minister.
■ Environment
Chen reassures islanders
President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) said problems pertaining to radioactive waste stored on Orchid Island would be solved by the end of this year. Steven Chang (張海嶼), a minister, and Hsieh Ching-kuang (謝慶廣), a representative of islanders, met with Chen yesterday and told him that residents demanded a clear timeframe for the removal of the radioactive material, a project has been delayed for four months. Currently, 97,672 barrels of low-level radioactive waste are stored at the site. Chen said that he felt sorry for the delay of the removal project, which was designed and carried out by Taiwan Power Company (Taipower). "However, the final repository for radioactive waste will never be established on Orchid Island," Chen said.
■ Earthquake
No damage from temblor
A mild earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 4.9 on the Richter scale rattled eastern and central Taiwan yesterday. No damage was reported. Central Weather Bureau officials said that the epicenter of the quake was located 38km southeast of the Nanao seismic station in Ilan County and was 47.6km below the surface of the earth. The quake, which occurred at 6:19am, had an intensity of 3 in Ilan County's Nanao and 2 in Ilan County's Suao Harbor, Hualien County's Hoping township and Taichung County's Techi.
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