Army troops pitch in to help clean up SARS-hit Taipei

The army pitched in with the city-wide disinfection job in Taipei yesterday by mobilizing a unit specializing in chemicals to help stem the spread of SARS, a military police source said.

A total of 1,210 soldiers from the 6th Army Corps, riding on 50 T486 light-chemical vehicles and 10 chemical pumpers, began disinfection work in Wanhua District,where two hospitals have been sealed off because of the appearance of SARS cases.

The army was called in by Taipei Mayor Ma Ying-jeou (馬英九) to step up infection control measures against SARS as the number of cases continues to grow and after several hospitals were sealed off because of the increasing appearance of SARS cases among health-care workers, the MP Command said during a press conference held yesterday morning.

The 6th Army Corps was supported in their efforts by 500 military police, who helped keep public order, and 450 police officers who helped direct traffic.

In their disinfection campaign, the soldiers will clean up main roads, streets, alleyways, school campuses and community areas throughout the Wanhua District.

After finishing with Wanhua District, the disinfection campaign will move to other districts around the city through Monday, going to Chungcheng, Tatung, Chungshan, Hsinyi, Sungshan, Nankang, Neihu, Shihlin, Peitou, Wenshan and Taan districts, in that order,, according to the MP sources.