Health and Science

Tainan records zero new dengue cases for second time

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/26
By: Chang Jung-hsiang and Frances Huang

Taipei, Dec. 26 (CNA) Tainan recorded no new dengue fever cases Friday, the second day in three days in which the southern city reported zero new infections, according to statistics released by the health authorities in the city Saturday.

Two days earlier, Tainan reported no new cases for the first time since May. On Thursday, the city reported four new cases of the mosquito-borne disease.

In addition to the zero new cases reported Friday, the Department of Health of the Tainan city government said that out of the total 37 districts in the city, 19 had reported no new cases for the 28th consecutive day, meaning that these districts were considered clear of infection.

The 19 districts are Danei, Liouying, Baihe, Zuojhen, Shanshang, Nansi, Yanshuei , Lioujia, Guantian, Cigu, Yujing, Jiali, Syuejia, Jiangjyun, Houbi, Longci, Sigang, Madou and Siaying, the authorities said. [FULL STORY]

Over 20,000 people die from smoking every year: health officer

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-26
By: Lung Pei-ning, Elaine Hou, Central News Agency

More than 20,000 people in Taiwan die from cigarette smoking every year, said

Over 20,000 people die from smoking every year.

the Ministry of Health and Welfare, warning that smoking is also highly linked to drug abuse among youngsters.

Smoking is a main cause of death for Taiwanese people, said the ministry’s Health Promotion Administration (HPA).

“Tobacco contains highly toxic compounds,” said HPA Director General Chiou Shu-ti. It contains more than 7,000 chemical substances and 93 of them could lead to cancer, she added.

According to a HPA survey on smoking among youngsters in Taiwan for 2014, five percent of Taiwanese junior high school students and 11.5 percent of senior high school students smoke. [FULL STORY]

Dengue fever cases exceed 42,000: CECC

Taiwan News
Date: 2015-12-22
By: Chia Lee, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

According to the statistics compiled by the Central Epidemic Command

Dengue fever cases exceed 42,000: CECC.

Center (CECC) for Dengue Outbreak, the death toll from the dengue fever has increased by 5, with the number now up to 209, including 112 cases in Tainan City, 95 in Kaohsiung City, and 2 in Pingtung County.

The five deaths confirmed as dengue cases were three male and two female aged between 68 and 79, and had all suffered from chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, or kidney problems.

According to the statistics, Taiwan has a cumulative total of 42,572 indigenous dengue cases reported since the start of the summer. Despite the number has been on the decline for the last four weeks, the authorities warned the public to remain on high alert and take proper preventive measures as winter sets in. [FULL STORY]

Taiwan records 28th flu-related death since July

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/22
By: Chen Wei-ting and Y.F. Low

Taipei, Dec. 22 (CNA) A 69-year-old man from central Taiwan died of

(CNA file photo)

flu-related complications earlier this month, the 28th flu-associated death recorded in the country since July, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said Tuesday.

The victim, who was a long-time smoker with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was hospitalized Dec. 1 after being diagnosed with pneumonia, the CDC said.

He came down with symptoms of shock and respiratory failure Dec. 7 and was admitted to a hospital intensive care unit. The patient died Dec.11, the CDC said.

Tests determined that the man was infected with the influenza A (H1N1）virus and he had not been vaccinated against flu this year, according to the CDC. [FULL STORY]

Taiwan dengue outbreak slowing, Chemical control to be reduced

The dengue fever outbreak in Taiwan is slowing with decreases reported during the past four weeks, according to Taiwan CDC data.

Outbreak News Today
Date: December 19, 2015
By: Robert Herriman

According to the statistics compiled by the Central Epidemic Command

Aedes aegypti/CDC

Center (CECC) for Dengue Outbreak, a total of additional 85 indigenous dengue cases were confirmed in Taiwan on December 18, 2015, including 78 cases in Kaohsiung City, 2 cases in Tainan City and 5 cases in Pingtung City.

Since this summer, a cumulative total of 42,353 indigenous dengue cases, including 22,732 cases in Tainan City, 18,733 cases in Kaohsiung City and 367 cases in Pingtung City.

In addition, the CECC announced plans for reduced use of chemical vector control to minimize impact on the environment. [FULL STORY]

Chiayi City Council passes proposal to boycott Ting Hsin foods

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/14
By: Chiang Chun-liang and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, Dec. 14 (CNA) Chiayi City Council passed a proposal Monday requiring all schools in

CNA file photo

the southern Taiwan city not to use any food products made by Ting Hsin International Group (頂新國際集團).

The proposal was brought up by two city councilors amid a widespread public outcry over a district court ruling in late November that acquitted former Ting Hsin Oil and Fat Chairman Wei Ying-chung (魏應充) of charges related to violations of the country’s food safety laws.

Wei was indicted in October 2014 after investigators found that his company had imported animal feed-grade material and declared it to customs as fit for human consumption. It was then used to make oil for cooking and making pastry.

The verdict drew a strong response from National Taiwan University (NTU) President Yang Pan-chyr (楊泮池), who announced Dec. 1 that his university will “indefinitely boycott” Ting Hsin food products. He also urged all schools around Taiwan to join the boycott. [FULL STORY]

Taiwan’s doors not to be rashly opened to Chinese investors: MOEA

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/14
By: Milly Lin, Yang Shu-min and Elizabeth Hsu

Taipei, Dec. 14 (CNA) Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) officials pledged

(CNA file photo)

Monday that the country’s doors will not be rashly opened to Chinese investment in Taiwan’s IC design sector before a consensus is reached on the issue amid rising opposition to the idea.

Public hearings and conferences will be held to discuss the proposal and collect the opinions of all those concerned, said officials at the MOEA’s Industrial Development Bureau.

A consensus will be needed before any doors are opened, they stressed.

Economic Affairs Minister John Deng (鄧振中) triggered the controversy when he said in late November that he will push for the opening of the IC design sector to Chinese investment before he steps down next year, raising both national competitiveness and national security concerns. [FULL STORY]

New dengue cases drop below 100 per day

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/14
By: Lung Pei-ning and Kay Liu

Taipei, Dec. 14 (CNA) The number of new daily cases in the current dengue fever outbreak fell below 100 for the first time Sunday, bringing the total number of cases since May this year to 41,811, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center.

A total of 79 new cases were confirmed Sunday, the lowest since late August, when authorities began offering daily updates about the outbreak, and the first time it had dropped below 100, statistics released Monday show.

The majority of the new cases — 75 — were recorded in the southern city of Kaohsiung, while neighboring Tainan City and Pingtung County each reported two new cases, the center said.

It was the third consecutive day that only two new cases were recorded in Tainan, the hardest-hit area, which has recorded 22,721 dengue fever cases since May. [FULL STORY]

Dengue fever cases up to 41,700 in Taiwan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/13
By: Lung Pei-ning, Chen Wei-ting and Kuo Chung-han

Taipei, Dec. 13 (CNA) A total of 103 new dengue fever cases in Taiwan were reported Saturday, bringing the total number of cases since May to 41,732 amid the nation’s worst dengue fever outbreak, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Sunday.

Kaohsiung reported 94 new cases, which brought its total to 18,149, according to the statistics released by the CECC.

The neighboring Tainan saw 2 new cases, which has been the hardest hit area this year, with 22,719 cases as of Saturday, according to the CECC. [FULL STORY]

Dengue fever outbreak slowing in Kaohsiung: CECC

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2015/12/12
By: Chen Wei-ting and Lee Mei-yu

Taipei, Dec. 12 (CNA) The dengue fever outbreak in the southern Taiwan city of Kaohsiung is showing signs of slowing down, the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said Saturday.

A total of 172 new dengue fever cases nationwide were confirmed Friday, bringing the total number of cases since May to 41,629, the center said.

Kaohsiung reported 149 new cases, which brought its total to 18,055, while the neighboring Tainan City saw 10 new cases, according to statistics released by the CECC.

Chou Jih-haw (周志浩), deputy director-general of the Centers for Disease Control, said he is confident that the outbreak in Kaohsiung will steadily slow down as temperatures have been dropping in recent days. [FULL STORY]

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