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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, May 11th 2024 - 03:13 UTC

Health & Science

  • Wednesday, December 27th 2023 - 10:25 UTC

    Covid-19: Pirola strain detected in Argentina

    The case of Pirola in Argentina was detected in the Southern Province of Santa Cruz

    Argentine health authorities Tuesday confirmed the first case of the JN.1 strain of the SARS-Cov-2 virus, also known as Pirola, which has been labeled a variant of interest (VOI) by the World Health Organization (WHO) last week.

  • Sunday, December 24th 2023 - 13:12 UTC

    Covid-19 shows social inequalities in Brazil and kills 2 in Bolivia

    Patients in private healthcare facilities in Brazil did better on average than those treated in public hospitals for Covid-19

    According to a study by the National School of Public Health (Ensp/Fiocruz) released this week, COVID-19 turned out to be a reflection of the South American country's socioeconomic and health disparities while in Bolivia -a full Mercosur member since earlier this month- two people have died of the disease.

  • Thursday, December 21st 2023 - 10:38 UTC

    First human case of equine encephalitis reported in Argentina

    WEE has been known since 1930, but starting a few years ago their vaccination was no longer mandatory

    Argentine authorities confirmed Wednesday the first case of Equine Encephalitis in a human patient who was hospitalized in Reconquista, in the province of Santa Fe. The last records of humans affected by this disease in the country date back to 1983 and 1996. No vaccines are effective in humans.

  • Wednesday, December 20th 2023 - 20:22 UTC

    Falklands, new confirmed avian influenza case: black browed albatross

    A black browed albatross, that was found dead on Steeple Jason, was swabbed for highly pathogenic avian influenza. A positive result was returned. Steeple Jason has been declared out of bounds

    On Tuesday 28 November 2023 a black-browed albatross, that was found dead on Steeple Jason, was swabbed for highly pathogenic avian influenza. A positive result was returned.

  • Wednesday, December 20th 2023 - 10:19 UTC

    Uruguayan President and his children land in Antarctica

    Lacalle and his children were expected to stay at the Artigas base for nearly 24 hours

    The Uruguayan Air Force's Lockheed C-130 Hercules FAU 594 carrying President Luis Lacalle Pou and his children landed at the South American country's Artigas Base (BCAA) in Antarctica on Tuesday. “After 30 years, I have returned to Antarctica. The Artigas base houses military and civilians who work side by side,” Lacalle wrote on social networks.

  • Wednesday, December 20th 2023 - 09:28 UTC

    Covid-19: WHO labels Pirola a Variant of Interest

    For now, the risk to public health was deemed low

    The World Health Organization Tuesday (WHO) warned that in addition to COVID-19, other respiratory diseases such as influenza, RSV, and common childhood pneumonia were on the rise and advised people at risk to take precautionary steps.

  • Tuesday, December 19th 2023 - 10:00 UTC

    Brazilian court orders posts linking Covid-19 vax to VAIDS removed

    Brazil's AGU warned that the association of vaccines with AIDS harms public health

    The 20th Federal Court of Rio de Janeiro Monday ordered the removal of publications on websites and Telegram channels linking Covid-19 vaccines with the alleged development of a “vaccine-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome” (or VAIDS), Agencia Brasil reported.

  • Monday, December 18th 2023 - 09:58 UTC

    Covid-19: First Pirola case confirmed in Ecuador

    According to the WHO, “Pirola” is circulating worldwide and is considered a variant of concern

    Ecuadorian authorities confirmed Sunday the detection of the first case of the so-called Pirola variant (BA.2.86) of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in a woman in Quito, who has been reported to be stable and “receiving outpatient treatment at home,” according to a statement from the Health Ministry, which is carrying out an epidemiological follow-up and monitoring of the patient.

  • Tuesday, December 12th 2023 - 10:51 UTC

    More than 320 cases of equine encephalomyelitis detected in 7 Argentine provinces

    Vaccines are available, Senasa said

    Argentine health authorities have confirmed the detection of over 320 cases of equine encephalomyelitis, a malady that is transmitted through mosquito bites and is spreading rapidly nationwide and also onto neighboring Uruguay.

  • Tuesday, December 12th 2023 - 10:44 UTC

    UK and Chile signed a five year Antarctica Cooperation Agreement

    The Letter of Intent ensures closer co-operation

    Foreign Office minister for the Americas, the Caribbean, and British Overseas Territories, David Rutley, has been quite busy in his areas of influence. At the end of October, he visited Peru to commemorate two hundred years of close relations between Britain and the Andean country. Rutley later travelled to Santiago, where he also had a busy agenda given UK's and the Royal Navy strong alliance with Chile.