Sun, Apr 27, 2003 page2

• SARS epidemic: Lawmakers offer expert advice on prevention

  LEGAL OPINIONS Legislators with backgrounds in medicine seemed to speak with one voice in giving the best ways for people to avoid getting the disease

  • By Fiona Lu / STAFF REPORTER
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  As the nation is confronted by the challenge of containing further outbreaks of severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, legislators with medical backgrounds yesterday offered the advice that frequently washing one's hands is the best protection against the disease.

  "Washing hands is the best prevention to avoid contracting the SARS virus. The measure is even more important than wearing gauze masks since medical experts found that SARS was not an airborne epidemic," said Legislator Peter Lin (林進興).

  Lin, who holds a masters degree in epidemiology, advised that compared to a gauze mask, wearing gloves would better protect a healthy body against contracting the disease indirectly.

  "Indirect transmission usually affects healthy people when they touch the virus in SARS patients' bodily fluids left in public places. Therefore, wearing gloves should be the best protection when it comes to cutting the risk of contracting SARS," he explained.

  Lin, in addition, called on the government to see that the all-out prevention measures against the mysterious epidemic as a chance to enhance the nation's public hygiene education.

  "The numerous SARS reports by local media endeavored to update the latest developments of the infection. Few of them have done a good job of teaching the public on how to protect themselves from being infected, as well as giving instructions on the fundamental measures for halting the disease's spread," he argued.

  PFP Legislator Kao Ming-chien (高明見), formerly a medical director at National Taiwan University Hospital, concurred with Lin's advice of increasing hand-washing.

  Instead of wearing the gauze masks, Kao said, intensified washing of hands, feet and the mouth should be emphasized.

  The washing will protect frail eyes and the nasal cavity in case a healthy person touched the SARS virus left by infected persons on handrails or chairs at public places, he explained.

  Wearing a gauze mask is advised for an all-out prevention effort when healthy citizens approach areas where cases of infection have been confirmed, he added.

  Kao advised citizens to avoid unneeded visits to public places, especially those with poor ventilation, while suspected cases of the disease continues to rise.

  "Crowded public places without good ventilation could be danger areas for spreading SARS. In this case, it is advisable to avoid these places when the nation is facing the threat of further outbreaks," Kao said.

  The former medical director said that the chances of catching the disease at the Legislative Yuan would likely be much lower than the chances in an air-conditioned compound or business building.

  DPP Legislator Chen Chi-mai (陳其邁), a master of preventive medicine, stressed that cautioning the public about the epidemic differed from generating panic.

  "Prevention measures need to achieve a balance between warning against spreading of the disease and engendering emotional fears.

  "The mass infection at Hoping Hospital revealed that the administration had not successfully contained the epidemic situation.

  "The protest staged by the hospital staff exposed the problem that the legal regulation relating to epidemic prevention must be reinforced for the sake of attaining control," Chen said.
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