Obesity causes more than 100,000 incidents of cancer in the US every year, the American Institute for Cancer Research said in estimates published Friday.

A 16-year-old Sri Lankan boy became the first victim in the country of influenza A(H1N1), or swine flu, doctors said Sunday.

The Kaohsiung City Government has upheld a ruling to fine a tobacco product marketing company NT$5.2 million for using colorful cards to promote sales.

The Department of Health (DOH) unveiled Saturday a plan that would make it compulsory for mental patients to receive treatment at community-level facilities for their illnesses.

The Council of Agriculture (COA) rejected a claim Friday that the influenza A (H1N1) virus recently detected among pigs in the eastern county of Taitung might not have been transmitted from humans.

Taiwan has joined nine other nations on a list of countries with the H1N1 swine flu virus being passed from humans to pigs after the Council of Agriculture (COA) confirmed the first documented cases on the island yesterday.

A cat in Iowa has tested positive for H1N1 swine flu, the first time a cat has been diagnosed with the new pandemic strain, the American Veterinary Medical Association said on Wednesday.

More than 4,000 people in Taiwan have endorsed a campaign calling for a nationwide referendum to force the government to reopen the beef trade talks with the U.S. and prohibit entry of ground beef and internal organs from American suppliers.

There is no need for panic despite the discovery of the first case of H1N1 swine flu virus being passed to pigs from humans as long as consumers cook their pork well, according to health officials.

National Security Council (NSC) Secretary-General Su Chi on Thursday dismissed media speculations that the U.S. government has issued a warning about the measures planned by the Taiwan government to block the importation of certain U.S. beef products.