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Latest in Health

World Breastfeeding Week puts proven support policies to the test

The World Health Organization used World Breastfeeding Week, held August 1-7, 2026, to press governments, health systems and employers to expand measures already linked to better breastfeeding outcomes. The agenda spans clinical counseling, paid leave and workplace support, while access and legal protections still differ sharply by country.

APPI News Editorial 4 min

Waist-to-height ratio flags metabolic risk that BMI can miss

A 2020 international consensus statement recommends measuring waist circumference alongside BMI because the two measures capture different aspects of health risk. Waist-to-height ratio offers a simple screening check, but neither measurement diagnoses visceral fat or metabolic disease.

APPI News Editorial 5 min

Taipei pharmacy alliance expands community health screening

A Taipei pharmacists' group and a private health association are expanding a program that links community pharmacies with clinics and corporate sponsors. The initiative proposes foot, bone and eye risk checks, but its promoters have not published test accuracy, referral completion or health-outcome data.

APPI News Editorial 3 min

WHO sets two-hour room-temperature limit for cooked food

World Health Organization guidance says cooked food should not remain at room temperature for more than two hours. United States guidance shortens that window to one hour above 32°C, while WHO advises cold storage below 5°C and hot holding above 60°C.

APPI News Editorial 4 min

Taiwan adds enhanced flu shots to 7.05 million-dose tender

Taiwan completed a tender in May 2026 for up to 7,050,150 publicly funded trivalent influenza vaccine doses for the 2026-27 season. The program adds adjuvanted and high-dose vaccines for older care-home residents, but its launch date had not been published by July 30.

APPI News Editorial 4 min

Hand, foot and mouth disease warning signs need urgent care

World Health Organization guidance tells parents to seek medical advice when a child with hand, foot and mouth disease develops high fever, vomiting, lethargy or limb weakness. Sudden weakness or trouble breathing, swallowing or speaking requires urgent assessment, while prevention centers on soap-and-water handwashing and cleaning shared surfaces.

APPI News Editorial 4 min

WHO framework adds functional ability to older adult assessment

The World Health Organization's updated care framework asks primary-care teams to assess changes in older adults' physical and mental capacities alongside their medical conditions. Walking speed, chair rises and grip strength can inform that review, but none provides a diagnosis or proves what caused a decline.

APPI News Editorial 3 min

Resistance training improves strength in frail older adults

A systematic review of 25 randomized trials found that resistance training improved strength and physical performance in older adults with frailty or sarcopenia. The trials varied widely, and their results do not provide a single exercise prescription for every older person.

APPI News Editorial 3 min

Lean adults can have fatty liver despite normal enzyme levels

A 2026 analysis of three cohorts found that lean adults with MASLD had higher relative rates of liver-related events and death than non-lean patients. Normal liver enzyme results cannot rule out fibrosis, while treatment goals differ according to weight, fibrosis and other metabolic risks.

APPI News Editorial 6 min

Explainable medical AI can raise or lower clinician trust

A 2024 systematic review found that explainable AI increased clinicians' trust in five of 10 empirical studies, while two reported mixed effects. A COVID-19 drug-repurposing project shows how an inspectable workflow can support expert review, but explanations do not establish clinical validity.

APPI News Editorial 4 min

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