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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, May 9th 2025 - 08:02 UTC

Health & Science

  • Tuesday, May 6th 2025 - 10:30 UTC

    Ecuador under epidemiological alert for pertussis, yellow fever, and leptospirosis

    According to Lama, yellow fever “is contained” in the Ecuadorean Amazon

    Ecuador has mandated mask-wearing in schools across provinces like Guayas, Manabí, Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Guayaquil, and Pichincha for 60 days due to an epidemiological alert caused by rising cases of whooping cough (321 cases, primarily in children) and yellow fever (four cases in Amazonian provinces).

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  • Thursday, May 1st 2025 - 19:33 UTC

    Oldest person on earth dies aged 116 in Brazil

    Sister Inah was a fan of Porto Alegre's Sport Club Internacional (Inter)

    Brazilian nun Inah Canabarro Lucas, the world's oldest person, died at 116 on Wednesday in Porto Alegre, due to multiple organ dysfunction. Born on June 8, 1908, she dedicated her life to religious service as a teacher and secretary with the Teresian Sisters. She attributed her longevity to her faith in God and was known for her love of barbecue, football (supporting Sport Club Internacional), and painting. In 2018, she received an apostolic blessing from Pope Francis.

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  • Thursday, May 1st 2025 - 18:55 UTC

    Unknown infectious agent kills eight Ecuadorean children

    The tests' results will be available around May 10

    At least eight Ecuadorean children in Taisha, in the province of Morona Santiago bordering Peru, died between February and April 2025 due to an unknown infectious agent, showing symptoms like fever, vomiting, bloody diarrhea, gastrointestinal issues, dehydration, and pneumonia. In this scenario, the Health Ministry has deployed extensive epidemiological efforts, including medical brigades, water and food analyses, and community interventions, but the cause remains unidentified.

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  • Thursday, May 1st 2025 - 10:38 UTC

    Uruguay’s meat consumption hits nine-year high in 2024

    Some 10,000 tons of the traditional Uruguayan barbecue were sold to the public on Wednesday throughout the country, on the eve of International Workers' Day

    Uruguayans consumed nearly 100 kilograms of meat per person in 2024, the highest level in the past nine years, according to the country’s National Meat Institute (INAC). The data confirms a strong rebound in domestic demand for animal protein, particularly beef and poultry.

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  • Thursday, May 1st 2025 - 09:24 UTC

    Brazilian digital platforms banned from advertising vaping devices

    “Our goal is to ensure that the digital environment respects legislation and promotes consumer safety,” Correa said

    Brazil's National Consumer Secretary (Senacon) has ordered digital platforms, including YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Enjoei, and Mercado Livre, to remove advertisements promoting or selling electronic cigarettes (vapes) and other tobacco-derived products within 48 hours. This directive follows Brazil's continued ban on these products, upheld by the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) in April 2025.

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  • Wednesday, April 30th 2025 - 20:30 UTC

    Typhoid fever outbreak causes alert around Argentine capital

    Without timely treatment, typhoid fever can cause severe complications and death

    Argentina's National Health Ministry issued a health alert after confirming several cases of typhoid fever, marking the disease's reappearance after over 20 years. Authorities are also investigating a possible related death. The alert aims to raise awareness about the infectious disease, its transmission, and prevention measures.

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  • Monday, April 28th 2025 - 10:18 UTC

    Uruguayan university study favors taxation on cigarettes

    At least 15% of adult deaths in Uruguay are believed to be caused by smoking

    In Montevideo, a Universidad de la República (Udelaar) study projected that a 60% increase in cigarette taxes from 2025 to 2028 would reduce smoking by 19%, preventing 49,000 smokers, and increase tax revenue by 24%, aligning with World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations.

  • Saturday, April 26th 2025 - 10:35 UTC

    Brazil: Fiocruz warns of respiratory diseases surging in 13 states

    The InfoGripe Bulletin also mentioned a nationwide increase in influenza A hospitalizations

    Brazil is experiencing an increase in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) cases, with 13 states and the Federal District at alert, risk, or high-risk levels, according to the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation's (Fiocruz) latest issue of the InfoGripe Bulletin released Friday. Additionally, hospitalizations due to influenza A have increased nationwide, with Mato Grosso do Sul facing a particularly critical situation.

  • Friday, April 25th 2025 - 10:15 UTC

    Global vaccination rates declining

    Chilean at-risk workers must be given half a day off to get the shots, Minister Boccardo recalled

    The World Health Organization (WHO) said global vaccination rates were declining, raising concerns about rising preventable diseases like measles (10.3 million cases in 2023, up 20%), meningitis, and yellow fever, driven by misinformation, humanitarian crises, population growth, and budget cuts.

  • Thursday, April 24th 2025 - 18:14 UTC

    Brazil's sanitary watchdog greenlights drug to treat Alzheimer's

    Anvisa will monitor the safety and effectiveness of donanemabe under strict scrutiny

    Brazil's National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) has approved the use of the drug donanemabe to slow the progression of Alzheimer's disease in patients with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia. It works by targeting beta-amyloid plaques in the brain, which are associated with the malady.

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