According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), Taiwan recorded a total of 346 confirmed SARS cases, with 73 deaths as a result of the disease. People became very concerned and there was widespread alarm. Many indoor public events were cancelled, and school classes were suspended. People became fearful of any human contact. In the fight to control spread of the infection, Heping Hospital (Taipei City Hospital, Heping Branch) was entirely sealed off by the government on 24 April 2003 due to its inadequate isolation management. Then the outbreak reached Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in Kaohsiung. The headline in Sinorama read: “SARS Wars: Taiwan Fights a Battle It Cannot Afford to Lose.” The people of Taiwan had to be fully mobilized to wage battle against the epidemic. Taiwan was finally removed from the list of SARS-affected areas in July 2003.
Taiwan learned many valuable lessons from the 921 earthquake and the SARS outbreak. One result was a growing empathy with vulnerable people in other countries, which led to active promotion of international medical aid. A few examples are Lien Chia-en, a doctor who was doing overseas service as a substitute for military duty, the Noordhoff Craniofacial Foundation, Tzu Chi International Medical Association and the International Cooperation and Development Fund. Through these organizations, Taiwan spread its care and love to all corners of the Earth in need. This medical aid continues to this day, and has created many deep and lasting friendships for Taiwan within the international community.
An invisible enemy is always the most frightening. Viruses too tiny for the naked eye to see created terrible fear in people’s minds. But the nation rallied, and was able to establish mechanisms to prevent further infection during the epidemic. (courtesy of CDC)
An invisible enemy is always the most frightening. Viruses too tiny for the naked eye to see created terrible fear in people’s minds. But the nation rallied, and was able to establish mechanisms to prevent further infection during the epidemic. (courtesy of CDC)
An invisible enemy is always the most frightening. Viruses too tiny for the naked eye to see created terrible fear in people’s minds. But the nation rallied, and was able to establish mechanisms to prevent further infection during the epidemic. (courtesy of CDC)
An invisible enemy is always the most frightening. Viruses too tiny for the naked eye to see created terrible fear in people’s minds. But the nation rallied, and was able to establish mechanisms to prevent further infection during the epidemic. (courtesy of CDC)
