Health and Science

Southern Taiwanese city of Tainan reports year’s first indigenous dengue fever case

Taiwan News  
Date: 2018/09/11
By:  Central News Agency

A 78-year-old woman has become the first reported indigenous dengue fever case in

Tainan sees a case of dengue fever. (By Central News Agency)

Tainan this year, health authorities in the southern city announced Tuesday.

The woman living in Tainan’s South District sought medical treatment and underwent screening for dengue Sunday after feeling unwell that day and coming down with a fever. She was hospitalized the following day, said Chen Yi, head of the city government’s dengue fever prevention and control center.

The woman was later confirmed to have dengue virus type 4 (DENV-4), Chen said.

The Tainan health authorities also determined the patient to be this year’s first indigenous dengue fever case in the southern city, according to Chen.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan university develops battery costing only 5% of lithium ones

Digitimes
Date: 13 April 2018
By: Rebecca Kuo, Tainan; Joseph Tsai, DIGITIMES

Taiwan’s National Cheng Kung University has developed an eco-friendly battery using

National Cheng Kung University develops a sodium ion-based battery
Photo: NCKU

sodium ion electrolyte as the source. The battery’s non-corrosive, non-toxic and non-explosive characteristics have made it suitable for storing power generated by wind and solar power systems, and can be applied near agricultural or water source areas without creating hazard, the developers said.

Since the electrolyte is diluted from sodium phosphate powder, which is cheap to acquire at NT$300 (US$10) per kilogram, the costs for making the battery are only 5% of those of a lithium battery.

However, the battery only features a maximum capacity of 60mAh/g, which is only half of the lithium battery’s 120mAh/g.    [SOURCE]

TAIWAN: Eating Out, Lack of Exercise Behind Rising Heart Disease

Heart disease is now the number two cause of death in Taiwan.

The News Lens
Date: 2018/03/26
By: By Matthew Fulco,

Credit: REUTERS/Nicky Loh

Last year my family and I moved into an apartment building with a small gym. There are treadmills, an elliptical trainer, an exercise bike, and dumbbell sets – enough equipment for a full workout.

It’s almost like having a private gym in my home. Even at peak times for gym use like early evening, I rarely have to share the space. In an 11-story building with multiple apartments on each floor, there are just a handful of people who use the fitness center.

As it turns out, my experience is not unique. A 2015 survey by the Health Promotion Administration (HPA) under the Ministry of Health and Welfare found that 76 percent of Taiwanese don’t get enough exercise. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends at least 150 minutes a week of moderate physical exercise or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity.    [FULL  STORY]

Physical inactivity is a top risk factor for heart disease, the No. 2 cause of mortality in Taiwan after cancer. In 2016 nearly 21,000 people died of cardiovascular disease in Taiwan, according to government data. The heart disease mortality rate rose 0.37 percent that year.

Ask Dr. Scott: Taiwan newspaper article details country’s battle against tobacco

The Daily Republic
Date: Jan 10, 2018
By Scott Anderson

While boarding a flight from Singapore to Taiwan, I recently picked up a complimentary copy of the Taipei Times. Taiwan is considered part of China under the “One China Policy,” as embraced by the United States.

The island maintains an edgy relationship, however, with the People’s Republic, which regards Taiwan as a renegade province.

The local newspaper, in addition to covering politics, contained a sophisticated analysis of cigarette smoking in Asia, titled, “Tobacco Must be Strictly Controlled.” It was authored by Wen-Chi Pan, of the National Health Research Institutes, and Wayne Gao, of Taipei Medical University.

I learned about the universal and culture-specific issues relative to this concern.

Protests demanding less air pollution apparently crop up in Taiwan, prompted by fear of lung cancer. Most Taiwanese women who contract this malignancy are non-smokers, perhaps contributing to the air quality concerns.    [FULL  STORY]

New act now makes it easier for foreigners to work in Taiwan

Radio Taiwan International
Date: 2018-02-08

It is now easier for foreigners to work and reside in Taiwan. That’s because Taiwan’s

Deputy head of the National Development Council Kao Shien-quey announces relaxed rules for foreign professionals going into effect on Thursday. (CNA file photo)

more relaxed rules for foreign professionals went into effect on Thursday. The new act’s aim is to recruit foreign talents in the areas of technology, economics, and finance.

The Act for the Recruitment and Employment of Foreign Professionals means that foreigners can freely seek and change jobs on their own. For the first time, they will be able to apply for permanent residency. The adult children of foreign professionals can also apply for permanent residency and work permits.

In addition, the act will allow foreigners to teach more subjects at cram schools. The council’s deputy head Kao Shien-quey explained.    [FULL  STORY]

Two more indigenous cases of dengue fever reported in Taiwan

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/09/28
By: Chen Wei-ting and William Yen

Taipei, Sept. 28 (CNA) Two more indigenous cases of dengue fever infection have

Image taken from Pixabay

been found in a couple residing in New Taipei City, northern Taiwan, said the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Thursday.

The couple aged in their 50s showed symptoms of continuous fever, muscle aches, joint pain and fatigue and was diagnosed with Type 1 dengue virus Wednesday after being admitted to hospital.

They have no record of leaving the country and have not been to the southern parts of Taiwan where dengue fever is more pronounced, CDC Deputy Director-General Philip Lo (羅一鈞) said.

According to test results, the virus strain is similar to those prevalent in Vietnam, hence it is possible that the source of infection may be an imported case hidden in the vicinity of the couple’s residence, said Lo.    [FULL  STORY]

Taiwan animal expert praises hygiene practices at Vietnamese hog farms

Taiwanese researcher emphasizes the maintenance of low waste at hog farms is the most effective way to prevent illness

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/09/22
By: Taiwan News

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A Taiwanese researcher said he was impressed by the

(By Wikimedia Commons)

Vietnamese hog-farming industry for its adoption of good hygiene practices, saying its low-waste hog farms can effectively prevent hog diseases and is what the Taiwanese sector can learn from.

Animal expert Chen Chi-ming (陳啟銘) shared his observations at a forum hosted by the New Taipei City Government Animal Protection and Health Inspection Office (AHIQO) on Thursday, and introduced the methods and facilities to prevent hog diseases. He also proclaimed that Vietnamese farms’ maintenance of low waste is an effective way to avoid any outbreak of a disease in livestock, as reported by China Times.

With 21 years of experience in farming and agriculture, Chen went to Vietnam last year to check some piggeries when there was an outbreak of diseases. After the investigation, he concluded that problems prevailed in the processing of vaccines.
[FULL  STORY]

Hospital confirms report about botched hysteroscopy that leads to premature birth

The China Post
Date: September 15, 2017
By: The China Post

Taipei Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Friday confirmed the report that a

Taipei Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Friday confirmed the report that a hysteroscopy conducted by one of its physicians had led to a premature birth because proper procedures were not followed.

hysteroscopy conducted by one of its physicians had led to a premature birth because proper procedures were not followed.

The botched hysteroscopy was one of the accusations in an internally recirculated letter that criticized the hospital for “industrializing” hysteroscopy, convincing patients to take the test for profits, adding that nine of ten gynecology patients have been given hysteroscopy at the hospital.

In the case mentioned by the letter apparently written by one of the hospital’s medical staff, an employee of the hospital received a hysteroscopy on Aug. 23 after she complained of menstrual disorder. During the procedure, the employee gave birth of an unknown-of 23-week baby. The hysteroscopy conducting the hysteroscopy, however, demanded the nursing staff not to give first aid to the baby and required everyone with knowledge of the incident to keep it a secret in order to avoid a scandal, according to the letter, which added that the gynecologist even blamed the patient for not knowing about her own pregnancy.    [FULL  STORY]

Possible case of collective food poisoning occurs at Tainan’s high school

130 students displayed symptoms related to food poisoning, including abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting, after having school dinner.

Taiwan News
Date: 2017/09/10
By: Teng Pei-ju, Taiwan News, Staff Writer

TAIPEI (Taiwan News) – A hundred and thirty students from Tainan’s Sheng Kung

Many students in Taiwan have meals offered by schools or catering companies contracted to schools. (Source: Pixabay)

Girl’s High School (聖功女中) were reported to have suffered abdominal discomfort after having dinner provided by the school September 5, and the city’s Health Department is investigating whether or not it is a case of collective food poisoning on campus.

According to a press release issued by the health department on September 9, the cause of the possible collective food poisoning could be the dinner provided by the school on September 5.

Of the 380 people who had the suspicious school dinner, 130 students have displayed symptoms related to food poisoning, including abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting since September 6.   [FULL  STORY]

FormoSat-5 begins contact with ground station

Focus Taiwan
Date: 2017/08/25
By: S.C. Chang

Taipei, Aug. 25 (CNA) Eighty-two minutes and 56 seconds after lift-off from the

Science Minister Chen (left, arms up) is elated by FormoSat-5’s successful contact with ground station.

Vandenberg Air Force Base in California Friday, the first Taiwan-made satellite FormoSat-5 started communications with planet earth, according to the Hsinchu-based National Space Organization (NSPO).

In a statement, NSPO said that at 4:13 a.m. Taiwan time, its ground antenna in Svalbard, Norway received signals from FormoSat-5, which was launched into the 720-km orbit by SpaceX Falcon-9 rocket 11 minutes 19 seconds after liftoff at 2:50 a.m.

“The success of the first contact marks a milestone of FormoSat-5,” said the statement. It noted that its first contact to Taiwan station is expected by 9:44 a.m.

Science and Technology Minister Chen Liang-gee (陳良基）and NARLabs President Wang Yeong-her (王永和）were elated by the successful first contact with the Norway station.    [FULL  STORY]