First Lady Wu Shu-Chen (吳淑珍) yesterday commended front line medical personnel fighting against the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).
"It is tough work taking care of SARS patients," Wu said. "The doctors have to care for the patients by themselves. After they treat SARS patients, they have to be quarantined themselves. They are risking their own lives at the same time."
"SARS is even more terrible than the war in Iraq. At least in the war you can see your enemies, but you cannot see your enemies in the battle against SARS," she said.
PHOTO: CHIANG YING-YING, TAIPEI TIMES
Wu made the remarks while addressing a press conference for World Book and Copyright Day yesterday.
She jokingly added, "At least now the cost of the National Health Insurance is dropping fast because people don't dare to dare go to hospitals."
Wu also made fun of her son-in-law, Chao Chien-ming (
She said, "He may be on the verge of losing his job. Many people go to see an orthopedist in emergency situations, but these days the emergency section at the hospital is almost empty because it takes in the majority of SARS patients."
When asked about Vice President Annette Lu's (呂秀蓮) statement saying she was willing to step down at next general election, Wu declined to comment.
However, when asked to rate Lu's performance as vice president, Wu answered, "She is very good."
The World Book and Copyright Day is an annual UN event to encourage everyone, in particular young people, to discover the joy of reading.
In a bid to highlight the global event, the Ministry of Education, together with Cite Publishing and Kingstone Bookstore, held a book exhibition to celebrate the day.
At the press conference, Wu highlighted one book, The Three Kingdoms, she felt should be on people's reading list.
The book, written by Lo Kuan-chung (羅貫中) in the 14th century, is one of the most famous Chinese historical novels and is based on the history of the three kingdoms.
Wu said she has been trying to get her husband to read the book ahead of next year's presidential elections in Taiwan and suggested that those in politics should read the book because it offers an insight into useful political strategies.
Meanwhile, the number of probable severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) cases in Taiwan hit 29 as of yesterday, with a woman from Hong Kong being the latest victim reported in Taiwan after a short-term stay here, according to Department of Health Vice Minister Lee Lung-teng (李龍騰).
The latest case is a 64-year-old woman from Hong Kong who traveled to Taiwan April 7 to avoid being infected with the potentially deadly disease in the former British colony.
But she fell ill April 17 after showing SARS symptoms and was immediately sent to a hospital in central Taiwan for treatment later the same day.
As of 3pm April 22, a total of 199 SARS cases were reported to health authorities nationwide, with 29 probable cases, 46 suspected cases, 38 cases awaiting verification and the remaining 86 cases excluded as SARS. A total of 1,957 notices of home confinement have been issued to date, of which 1,608 have been allowed to end their quarantine.
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