Doctors warn of underestimated risks of respiratory syncytial virus

Doctors warn of underestimated risks of respiratory syncytial virus

2026-03-27

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common but underestimated infectious disease. Studies have shown that when adults with RSV are hospitalized, the risk of developing pneumonia is three times higher than with the flu. RSV can also trigger cardiovascular events in older patients with heart issues, increasing the risk of hospitalization and death. People can prevent the disease by frequently washing their hands, wearing a mask and getting vaccinated.

As people get older, they are more likely to face health issues. In recent years, studies have shown that respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is commonly underestimated. A US study even found that older patients hospitalized with RSV are three times more likely to get pneumonia than those with the flu.

Tseng Ching-min
Pulmonologist
Some more studies have shown that in more serious cases, about 70% of patients may develop pnemonia in the lower respiratory tract. In addition, patients at our thoracic department with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may have acute attacks after getting RSV, and their situation will worsen severely. They may cough, wheeze, and have tightness in their chest, and even come to the emergency room or be hospitalized for antibotiotics, steroids, and other treatments.

For high-risk groups, being hospitalized with RSV greatly increases the risk of developing pneumonia. Especially for patients with cardiovascular issues, RSV may weaken the immune system and increase the risk of hospitalization and death.

Tseng Ching-min
Pulmonologist
There was one young man around 40 years old who came and presented with an inflamed heart, severe shortness of breath, and pulmonary edemas on both sides. We discovered that he developed myocarditis due to an RSV infection. Even though he had no clear history of heart disease, the virus still affected his heart. For patients with a history of heart attacks or heart failure, we recommend getting vaccinated to reduce the risk.

Doctors urge people with cardiovascular diseases to take their medication regularly and monitor their blood pressure and blood sugar levels. They should also wash their hands regularly and consult with their doctor about vaccinations to reduce the risk of infection.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#lunginfection #RSV #RespiratorySyncytialVirus #pneumonia #hospital #heartdisease #highrisk #vaccine #hygiene #diseaseprevention #publichealth #PSA

"呼吸道融合病毒"常被低估醫師:心血管患者須格外留意

2026-03-27

RSV呼吸道融合病毒，是一種被低估的常見傳染病，國外研究，成人RSV若是找上住院老年患者，罹患肺炎風險將比流感高了近3倍，尤其心血管疾病患者更要當心，因為成人RSV可能會誘發急性心血管事件，拉高住院與死亡風險，最好的預防方式除了勤洗手戴口罩，也可以接種疫苗來預防。

長輩來醫院掛號看診，年紀越大身體越容易出狀況，近年許多研究都指向，RSV呼吸道融合病毒，危險性常被低估，美國研究甚至指出，住院老年患者感染成人RSV，罹患肺炎風險比流感高了將近3倍。

[[振興醫院胸腔內科主治醫師曾敬閔]]
“有些研究甚至厲害一點的話，可能有七成左右的患者，會有所謂的肺炎，下呼吸道感染肺炎的一個狀況，那另外像比如說，我們胸腔科的病人，有慢性肺阻塞的病人，在得到RSV以後，有些病人會所謂的急性發作，就會惡化得很厲害，所以他的這個，咳嗽啦胸悶啦喘，那甚至要來醫院的急診，甚至要住院接受這個，抗生素還有類固醇等等的治療。”

醫師提醒重症高風險族群，成人RSV住院更容易引發肺炎，尤其出現在心血管疾病患者身上，將導致免疫力和保護力下降，而住院和死亡風險都上升。

[[振興醫院胸腔內科主治醫師曾敬閔]]
“差不多40歲左右的年輕男性，但是他來了以後，他就是心臟很肥大，然後又很喘，兩邊也有肺水腫的狀況，那後來就發現，他是因為RSV這種病毒感染，造成的這個心肌炎，過往他雖然沒有明顯的，這個心臟病病史，但也讓他的心臟受到了影響。比如說心肌梗塞啦，或者是心衰竭的病人，那這些病人的話，我們也會建議說，可以使用來接種疫苗，減少這個風險。”

呼籲心血管疾病患者，要規律服藥定期監測血壓血糖，平常要勤洗手注意手部衛生，也能諮詢醫師定期接種相關疫苗，預防各種疾病。

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MAC responds to China claims that Ko’s ruling is ‘Green Terror’

Former Taiwan People’s Party chairman Ko Wen-je held an international press conference on Thursday, after he was sentenced to 17years in prison for his involvement in a major corruption case. Ko called the verdict a politically orchestrated judicial performance and declared to President Lai Ching-te that he would never surrender. On Friday Premier Cho Jung-tai fired back, saying anyone who claims the ruling party can manipulate the judiciary has no place in government. Meanwhile, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office labeled the verdict as an example of the DPP’s authoritarian rule. Mainland Affairs Council head Chiu Chui-cheng rejected the criticism, saying authoritarian regimes have no right to dictate to democratic Taiwan.

- Lai Ching-te, I won’t ever surrender. Lai Ching-te, I won’t yield!

Shouting loudly at an international press conference following his sentencing, Ko Wen-je portrayed himself as a victim of political persecution.

Ko Wen-je
Founder of Taiwan People’s Party
This case is not about pursuing the truth. It’s playing out like a script that was previously written and we’re now seeing the aftermath. This trial was not a trial carried out in a country governed by the rule of law. It was a show orchestrated by political forces.

Wang Yi-chuan
Lawmaker (DPP)
The ruling was handed down by the court, not by Lai Ching-te. Chung Siao-ping was the one who filed the case against you, and it was the Taipei City Council that pursued this.

Cho Jung-tai
Premier
People who claim that the ruling party can manipulate the judiciary are not fit to be part of the ruling party. In our democratic times, no party in the government can control judicial cases. We trust the professionalism of the judiciary and the independence of the courts.

While Premier Cho strongly pushed back against Ko, China’s Taiwan Affairs Office denounced Ko’s ruling as “Green Terror.”

Chiu Chui-cheng
Mainland Affairs Council
The ROC is a democratic country governed by the rule of law, while mainland China is an authoritarian regime. They have no right to comment on Taiwan and point fingers.

The high-profile case has not only drawn widespread attention domestically, but also internationally. Outlets such as Reuters and BBC have described the Core Pacific City case as a major political scandal in Taiwan, and noting Ko’s dramatic fall from a once-promising presidential contender to a convicted figure behind bars.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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2026-03-27

Digital nomad families from 11 countries gather in Hualien

Many people are fed up with the nine-to-five grind, and are looking for a way to travel while working—even with children in tow. A couple from Denmark developed a platform where digital nomads with families from around the world can travel together for extended periods, helping each other to form a kind of mobile global village. Now the group of 20 families has come to Hualien to experience the laid-back east coast life.

Parents lead their kids in doing hands-on activities on long wooden tables. But these aren’t your ordinary tourists. They’re professionals working remotely who decided to bring their families with them to Taiwan.

There are 20 families hailing from 11 countries in this group. They range in age from four months to 58 years old, totaling nearly 80 people in all. Most are digital nomads, who are traveling while working.

Angi
Writer
Actually, life in the US before was very, very lonely until we discovered Traveling Village. It’s a tourism concept where everyone pools their resources, the big kids look after the small kids, and there’s educational resources. It made us realize that the road less traveled isn’t just for single people. Families can do it, too.

This new living concept is the brainchild of a couple from Denmark. They wanted to keep traveling while also raising a family, so they created an online platform where they invited other families from around the world to bring their kids along with on long-term stays, where everyone would look after each other like their own small village.

Nikolaj Astrup
Traveling Village founder
So we have Traveling Village, which is kind of the main idea. So we created a website with the idea of being a big group of families that help each other. So most people in our group, they work, but it’s very different how they work.

The parents’ careers are diverse, from engineers, to scientists, to writers. Most are able to work remotely or take long periods of time off. Every year, they choose a place to travel for three months. This time they chose Taiwan, which has special meaning to cofounder Michelle.

Michelle Rødgaard-Jessen
Traveling Village founder
My mom is from Taiwan, but she grew up in Brazil. I wanted to reconnect with my Taiwanese roots and come back and visit this country. Also because Taiwan has so much to offer, like nature, and the people, and culture.

Chen An-chi
Cafe owner
This kind of immersive travel involves staying for a long time, so it should be helpful for us restaurant and hotel owners.

Local businesses are also happy to welcome these traveling families to stay for a while in Hualien, giving their kids a unique life experience.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#digitalnomad #TravelingVillage #travel #remotework #Hualien #families #parents #livingabroad

2026-03-27

Tainan farmers use raptor perches to keep away destructive vermin

Farmers in Tainan are constantly battling mice and birds to keep their crops safe. To promote ecologically friendly farming, the Tainan Agriculture Bureau over the past two years has been installing raptor perches on farms. They give a place for hawks and other birds of prey to rest and wait for their chance to hunt field mice, lizards, and other small animals. There are now 21 set up by the city government and farmers themselves, helping farmers reduce damage to their crops.

Some farmers tie ribbons to trellises, while others stick on reflective tape. Some even speak over a megaphone. All of these methods are meant to drive away birds, mice, and other vermin. But they all have their limitations.

Farmer
Tainan
These are our tomatoes. But they’re very smart. Just as they start changing color, they eat them. And they’ll jump after eating, so it leaves a big pile on the ground.

To help prevent farmers’ hard-earned work from being destroyed time and again, the Tainan City Government in 2024 started installing raptor perches on some farms. They give the birds a place to rest and keep watch for lizards, field mice, sparrows, and other small prey. It also helps out the farmers.

Farmer
Tainan
When they see prey, they’ll fly out to catch it. Then they’ll fly back to eat it straight away. So these perches are extremely useful. We also don’t need to buy any rodenticide.

Perch installer
Tainan
You can use bamboo or iron poles. Or just attach any horizontal bar directly to a tree to make a raptor perch. That’s the easiest way.

Raptor perches can not only reduce crop damage caused by wild animals, but also saves farmers from using pesticide. The city has already set up 10 perches at farms in Dongshan, Guantian, Danei, and Guanmiao districts, while farmers themselves have installed 11 more for a total of 21. It’s like an all-you-can-eat buffet for the birds.

Chu Chien-ming
Tainan nature conservation chief
We’re using the food chain itself. Setting up a food chain. The longer the food chain, the healthier the environment will be.

After setting up the perches, farmers have noticed a clear increase in birds of prey spending time around their fields. The city is considering installing more of them to share the benefits with more farmers.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

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2026-03-27

Spotlight on eco-friendly restaurant

Today we take you to an eco-friendly restaurant in Taipei. Originally founded as a vegetarian restaurant, it has now evolved into an eco-friendly restaurant — offering organic dishes alongside carefully selected sustainable seafood. FTV reporter Stephany Yang spoke to the restaurant’s founder and CEO to find out more about their mission.

Nearly 90% of the restaurant’s ingredients are locally sourced from Taiwan, with a strong focus on organic, small-scale, and eco-friendly farmers. It champions low food mileage, transparent sourcing, and clear labeling of dishes as vegan, vegetarian, or sustainable seafood.

Jennifer Wang
Restaurant CEO
This seafood platter features four kinds of seafood: Taiwanese mackerel, squid, mahi-mahi, and shrimp. I feel that Taiwan often overlooks many of its own wonderful ingredients. The selection also changes with the seasons. This dish includes farmed seafood as well. Many people have tried pasta with squid ink, but they worry about their mouths turning black or tasting too much artificial coloring. Our squid ink pasta is different. We use organic squid pasta, and we even extract the ink directly from the squid’s sac to make a natural squid ink sauce.

Co-founded by lawyer and environmentalist Robin J. Winkler alongside his partners, the restaurant has earned numerous awards for its commitment to sustainability and innovation. The restaurant’s mission is to support the land, empower farmers, and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Robin J. Winkler
Co-founder
My partner at the law firm and I both fully supported it. My partner, Peter, is passionate about Taiwanese fruits and vegetables. He had always wanted to start something like this. When I first met my wife, I said, “Let’s do a business that is 100% Taiwanese because this place is so productive, interesting, and diverse.” I had this idea for many years. We wanted a platform for Taiwan’s diversity, small farmers, and land issues so it was meant to be sort of an activist restaurant.

In 2018, Jennifer Wang took over leadership of the restaurant and now serves as its CEO. Under her leadership, it has rebranded as a friendly restaurant—offering plant-based dishes alongside carefully selected sustainable seafood, and deepened partnerships with local farmers and ethical suppliers.

Jennifer Wang
Restaurant CEO
Our restaurant not only uses ingredients from Taiwan. In fact, we go a step further—we hope that what we eat is not only rooted in Taiwan’s resources but also friendly to the environment. We also partner with an NGO that has long been engaged in environmental issues. For most consumers, these concepts are still vague. What does environmental change mean? What does sustainable environment mean? Actually, it is closely connected to food and agriculture. Taiwan’s agriculture and fisheries are very abundant, but our food self-sufficiency rate has been declining, and the situation with fish is even more severe. So it’s not simply about saying ‘don’t fish’ or ‘don’t catch fish.’ Rather, it’s about making the right choices in what we buy. We research whether the fishing or farming methods cause harm to the environment—or even better, whether they help the environment.

From locally sourced produce to sustainable seafood, every dish here is a celebration of Taiwan’s biodiversity.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#greendining #sustainable #ecofriendly #sustainability

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Families pool time to get rest from caring for elders

As Taiwan enters a super-aged society, the demand for long-term care is rising, while a shortage of caregivers continues to put pressure on families and the system alike. For those caring for loved ones with dementia, the burden can be especially heavy, with little time to rest. The Ministry of Health and Welfare has rolled out a new solution, a mutual respite service that turns idle hours at care centers into shared support networks. Families take turns volunteering alongside professional caregivers, creating a cooperative model that allows each caregiver to earn valuable time off. The initiative aims to ease the strain on households by encouraging families to support one another so no one has to face the challenges of caregiving alone.

For families who have elders with dementia, getting asked the same questions over and over again is just daily life. But it can be exhausting. That’s especially so when day care centers close on the holidays and working adults don’t even get to catch a break on the weekend. That’s why Ms. Lee and Mr. Chiang decided to join a mutual respite program to take care of 80-year-old Ms. Chiang.

Lee Yu-shan
Ms. Chiang’s daughter-in-law
They find a caregiver, so she gets lunch and snacks in the afternoon. Families take turns volunteering. That’s pretty much it.

Chiang Wei-hsin
Ms. Chiang’s grandson
She gets to exercise, and an instructor plays games with them. It’s really worth it.

Ms. Chiang’s relatives take turns volunteering so that she can attend special classes. The Ministry of Health and Welfare launched the mutual respite platform as part of Taiwan’s Long-term Care Plan 3.0. Six to eight families are made into a group with one caregiver to make use of day care centers that would otherwise close on weekends. The sessions are supported by volunteers from each family, who take turns so that everyone can have some free time. Volunteering one day equals two days of rest.

Chen Cheng-fen
NTUNHS
The venues can be opened on weekends, with fees costing just NT$200 for a full day or NT$100 for half a day. Rates are free for low-income and medium-low-income families.

There are currently 50 groups set up around Taiwan. All participants have to do is sign up for a location and a time slot online. Prices are affordable, at just NT$200 for eight hours.

Lue Jen-der
Deputy Minister of Health and Welfare
It provides downtime to let caregivers rest. We’re promoting this time bank and we hope that in the future, if it is feasible, we can incorporate future time imbursements.

Families who with elders included in the Long-term Care 3.0 plan are eligible to apply and help each other get some free time to rest.

For more Taiwan news, tune in:
Mon to Fri at 9:30 pm on Channel 152
Tue to Sat at 1 am on Channel 53

#longtermcare #respite #care #caregiver #timebank

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