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Taiwan News Quick Take

■ HEALTH

Enteroviruses top bug list

Enteroviruses topped the list of infectious diseases affecting Taipei school campuses last year, with 2,010 cases reported, Taipei City health officials said yesterday. Enteroviruses are spread by direct contact with secretions from an infected person or by contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. Infected persons usually develop either a flu-like illness with a fever and muscle aches or a rash. Health authorities advise students to wash their hands, eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly to avoid infectious illnesses.



■ HEALTH

Cards contain carcinogen

Excessive levels of the carcinogenic chemical formaldehyde were found in 47 percent of playing cards surveyed recently, the Consumers' Foundation officials said yesterday. Of a total of 55 playing cards sampled, 26 were found to contain formaldehyde residue ranging from between 122.7 parts per million (ppm) to 1,691 ppm, much higher than the limit of 75 ppm set by the government for the chemical, the officials said. Sixteen, or 61.5 percent, of the substandard products were made in China, they said. Formaldehyde is widely used as an industrial fungicide, germicide and disinfectant. It has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a carcinogen. In light of the popularity of card games during the Lunar New Year holiday, officials urged consumers to avoid using cards that have a pungent smell because they are likely to contain formaldehyde.



■ POLITICS

Chen visits islet

President Chen Shui-bian (陳水扁) yesterday visited Hsiaochiu (小坵), a small islet off the Matsu Islands, to review military forces stationed there. It was the first time Chen had set foot on the islet on his third visit to the Wuchiu (烏坵) chain. Chen, who arrived by helicopter, attended the inauguration of a parking apron in Hsiaochu. He also handed out red envelopes to troops and residents. Chen visited the disputed Spratly Islands (南沙群島) on Saturday, inspecting a recently completed airstrip.



■ POLITICS

No tax decision yet

Amid speculation that the government is considering adjusting business and income taxes, Premier Chang Chun-hsiung (張俊雄) yesterday said he would not make a final decision until after the Lunar New Year holiday. Chang said that the government began mapping out a comprehensive taxation reform plan in August as the Statute for Upgrading Industries (促進產業升級條例) will expire next year. The Ministry of Finance is working on two proposals to adjust business tax and income tax returns. Chang rejected speculation that the measure was politically motivated. Chang said the taxation reform package was aimed at building a sustainable economy and fair society, not at boosting his party's chances in next month's presidential election.



■ DIPLOMACY

Minister cancels trip

Minister of Education Tu Cheng-sheng (杜正勝) has decided to cancel a trip to Paraguay because of the "disclosure" of his itinerary by the media, a ministry official said yesterday. Liu Ching-jen (劉慶仁), director of the Bureau of International Cultural and Educational Relations, said that Tu was scheduled to leave today for a 15-day visit to Paraguay but called off the trip because "some important details of his itinerary" had been leaked.
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