wfn.org | TCN: Victims relocated as temporary shelters report cases of H1N1

["Taiwan Church News" <enews@pctpress.org>]

>      Taiwan Church News

>3001 Edition

>August 31~September 6, 2009

Victims relocated as temporary shelters report cases of H1N1

>Reported by Lin Yi-ying

>Written by Lydia Ma

Recently, H1N1 cases were reported among several temporary  shelters housing

Typhoon Morakot victims. After much consideration and discussion  between

displaced victims and Kaohsiung County government, all typhoon  victims were

moved from temporary shelters to military academies and military  bases. The

purpose of this arrangement is to provide better accommodation for  typhoon

victims, enable each family to live alone, and prevent H1N1 from  spreading

>further.

According to reports, several typhoon victims have contracted H1N1  while living

in temporary shelters after the typhoon washed away their homes.  To prevent the

virus from spreading any further, all victims were transferred to  three military

bases. Residents from Namasiya were transferred to Yenchao and  Fonghsiung

military academies, while Jiasian, Taoyuan, and Liouguei residents  were placed

>in another military academy.

Another reason for placing flood victims in military academies or  bases is

because temporary shelters run by churches and temples usually  have all victims

share one large room and everyone has been sleeping with bedding  laid on the

floor. Such an arrangement could only be temporary as it was far  from ideal.

In contrast, moving to military academies will enable each family  to have its own

room. Big families can even settle in bedrooms that will fit 10 to  16 beds. Under

such an arrangement, everyone will have a bed and hygiene and  quality of life will

be much improved. Furthermore, such an arrangement will be more  effective in

>containing the spread of H1N1.

Many Taiwanese citizens are worried because of increasing cases of  H1N1 in

Taiwan and WHO findings that the virus spreads 4 times faster than  common

colds. According to the WHO, out of 1000 individuals who contract  H1N1 virus, 1

person will die from it within 7 days and 40% of these fatalities  will occur among

>young adults in their prime.

Hospitals affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan (PCT),  namely

Mackay Memorial, Changhua Christian, and Sinlau hospitals, have  conducted

staff meetings and exercises in preparation for a possible H1N1  outbreak.

As the virus might spread exponentially in September, Christian  hospitals in

Taiwan have scheduled several staff meetings to discuss responses  to different

scenarios and potential emergencies. Mackay Memorial, Changhua  Christian,

and Sinlau hospitals have also scheduled exercises just in case.  MacKay

Memorial Hospital Superintendent Tsai Cheng-ho said his hospital  is fully

prepared and has experience in dealing with epidemics because the  SARS

outbreak a few years ago gave Mackay valuable lessons and  experiences.

In related news, the Department of Health (DOH) is investing time  and energy in

raising public awareness and has suggested that individuals who  have a

combination of symptoms such as fever for more than two days, cold  shivers,

chest pains, sore muscles, acute tiredness, sore throat, and  coughing must wear

masks immediately and seek medical attention. It also cautioned  against

abusing or overusing flu medication. Vaccines for H1N1 will be  given to medical

professionals, pregnant women, children under 6 years of age, and  Morakot

>victims.

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