The Center for Disease Control (CDC) said yesterday it has received 20 reports of suspect severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) cases. \nSix of the 20 cases matched the World Health Organization's definition of "probable cases" of SARS, said Chen Tsai-ching (陳再晉), CDC director-general. \nThe CDC is in the process of checking whether another three of the 20 could be listed as suspect SARS cases, Chen said. \nThe CDC has confirmed 11 out of the 20 were not suspect SARS cases, according to Chen. \nChen said that before the WHO pinpoints the virus that causes SARS, all cases can only be listed as "probable" or "suspected" cases. \nOn Friday, a Vietnam-based US diplomat chartered a flight to send his son to Taiwan for SARS treatment. \nChen said the National Taiwan University Hospital (NTUH), where the child was admitted to, did not report any new developments of the boy's illness yesterday. \nNevertheless, Chen said the child's symptoms did not fully match the WHO's definition of suspected SARS cases because his fever has not been higher than 38?C since his arrival at Taiwan. \nThe boy was referred to NTUH with the help of the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT). \nIn an interview with the Central News Agency on Friday, Douglas Paal, AIT's Taipei office director, said the SARS outbreak has given Taiwan a rallying point regarding observer rights in the upcoming World Health Assembly. \nAccording to CNA, Paal said Taiwan has done well in handling the SARS cases that have occurred in the past few weeks, in contrast with China's behavior. This will be an argument for Taiwan's participation, Paal said. \nAfter the SARS outbreak, two officials from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention were dispatched to Taiwan to help study the cause of the disease. \nAccording to CNA, Paal said the US officials highly approved of the CDC's handling of the SARS outbreak. \nMeanwhile, Chen said in order to prevent the spread of SARS, schools or institutions where suspect SARS cases are reported can decide on their own to impose "quarantine vacation" of up to seven days. \nBesides, the Department of Health reiterated yesterday it showed no favoritism in dealing with SARS treatments for the US diplomat's child and China-based Taiwanese businessmen. \nDepartment Director-General Twu Shiing-jer (涂醒哲) called earlier this week for China-based Taiwanese businessmen infected with SARS to be treated in local hospitals. \nWhen the US diplomat's child was flown to Taiwan, some local media reported that the department had set double standards in giving SARS treatment to foreigners and Taiwanese businessmen. \nThe health department issued a statement yesterday saying it has convened a meeting on March 18 to discuss how to transport suspected SARS cases to Taiwan. \nAccording to the statement, suspected SARS cases can be sent to Taiwan if quarantine measures during the transporting process are properly taken. \nThe statement said the suspected SARS cases' nationality "makes no difference" to the treatment they receive. \nThe health department still encourages China-based Taiwanese businessmen to stay in local hospitals for treatment, said the statement. \nAlso See Story: \n \nEditorial: SARS: The US helps, WHO doesn't
The Hualien District Prosecutors’ Office has listed six people as suspects in a judicial investigation into a fatal train crash on Friday last week. Fifty people were killed and more than 200 were injured when the Taroko Express No. 408 train slammed into a crane truck that had slid onto the tracks near the entrance of Cingshuei Tunnel (清水隧道) in Hualien’s Sioulin Township (秀林). The office also summoned six officials at the Taiwan Railways Administration’s (TRA) Hualien Engineering Section for questioning about alleged illegal business operations and unsafe work conditions by Yi Hsiang Industry Co and Tung Hsin Construction Co, the two
The navy’s new 10,600-tonne warship is on Tuesday to be christened the ROCN Yushan (玉山), as the nation’s indigenous shipbuilding program reaches a milestone, sources said yesterday. The vessel, previously referred to as the “new landing platform dock,” was at a shipyard with its name freshly painted on the hull with the number 1401, the Liberty Times (the sister paper of the Taipei Times) reported yesterday, citing an unnamed observer. Democratic Progressive Party Legislator Wang Ting-yu (王定宇), a member of the legislature’s National Defense and Foreign Affairs Committee, confirmed the report in a Facebook post. The NT$4.635 billion (US$163 million) ship is designed
DIALOGUE SOUGHT: Washington said it was concerned about the pattern of ongoing attempts to intimidate Taiwan after the 10th day of PLA activity in the region The US on Monday urged Beijing to stop its multifaceted pressure campaign against Taiwan after China sent 25 military jets into Taiwan’s air defense identification zone. “The United States notes with concern the pattern of ongoing PRC [People’s Republic of China] attempts to intimidate the region, including Taiwan,” a US Department of State spokesperson said in an e-mail response to questions. “We urge Beijing to cease its military, diplomatic and economic pressure against Taiwan, and instead engage in meaningful dialogue with Taiwan.” The Ministry of National Defense said that 25 Chinese military aircraft entered the zone on Monday. It was the 10th straight
The Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) yesterday reported two new serious adverse events following COVID-19 vaccination. Eligibility for COVID-19 vaccination was on Monday expanded to cover the second and third priority groups, including local government heads, public health officials, customs and immigration officials, quarantine facility workers and crew members of international flights. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Deputy Director-General Chuang Jen-hsiang (莊人祥), who is the CECC’s spokesman, said 1,181 people received a vaccine shot on Monday, bringing the total number of vaccinated people to 25,882 in Taiwan. Fifteen adverse events following vaccination were reported on Monday, including two suspected serious adverse events, he
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