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 (
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 (
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 (
"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.
UNILATERAL MOVES: Officials have raised concerns that Beijing could try to exert economic control over Kinmen in a key development plan next year The Civil Aviation Administration (CAA) yesterday said that China has so far failed to provide any information about a new airport expected to open next year that is less than 10km from a Taiwanese airport, raising flight safety concerns. Xiamen Xiangan International Airport is only about 3km at its closest point from the islands in Kinmen County — the scene of on-off fighting during the Cold War — and construction work can be seen and heard clearly from the Taiwan side. In a written statement sent to Reuters, the CAA said that airports close to each other need detailed advanced
Tropical Storm Fung-Wong would likely strengthen into a typhoon later today as it continues moving westward across the Pacific before heading in Taiwan’s direction next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said. As of 8am, Fung-Wong was about 2,190km east-southeast of Cape Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, moving westward at 25kph and possibly accelerating to 31kph, CWA data showed. The tropical storm is currently over waters east of the Philippines and still far from Taiwan, CWA forecaster Tseng Chao-cheng (曾昭誠) said, adding that it could likely strengthen into a typhoon later in the day. It is forecast to reach the South China Sea
WEATHER Typhoon forming: CWA A tropical depression is expected to form into a typhoon as early as today, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday, adding that the storm’s path remains uncertain. Before the weekend, it would move toward the Philippines, the agency said. Some time around Monday next week, it might reach a turning point, either veering north toward waters east of Taiwan or continuing westward across the Philippines, the CWA said. Meanwhile, the eye of Typhoon Kalmaegi was 1,310km south-southeast of Oluanpi (鵝鑾鼻), Taiwan’s southernmost point, as of 2am yesterday, it said. The storm is forecast to move through central
UNKNOWN TRAJECTORY: The storm could move in four possible directions, with the fourth option considered the most threatening to Taiwan, meteorologist Lin De-en said A soon-to-be-formed tropical storm east of the Philippines could begin affecting Taiwan on Wednesday next week, the Central Weather Administration (CWA) said yesterday. The storm, to be named Fung-wong (鳳凰), is forecast to approach Taiwan on Tuesday next week and could begin affecting the weather in Taiwan on Wednesday, CWA forecaster Huang En-hung (黃恩鴻) said, adding that its impact might be amplified by the combined effect with the northeast monsoon. As of 2pm yesterday, the system’s center was 2,800km southeast of Oluanbi (鵝鑾鼻). It was moving northwest at 18kph. Meteorologist Lin De-en (林得恩) on Facebook yesterday wrote that the would-be storm is surrounded by
RSS