Health & Science

• Wednesday, June 25th 2025 - 09:44 UTC

  Brazilian poultry exports admitted again in 17 countries

  

  Seventeen countries have lifted import restrictions on Brazilian poultry after the South American country was declared free of avian influenza on June 18, following 28 days without any new cases since the outbreak in Rio Grande do Sul in a commercial farm in Montenegro.

• Wednesday, June 25th 2025 - 09:07 UTC

  Contaminated fentanyl kills 48 so far in Argentina

  

  This week's issue of Argentina's National Epidemiological Bulletin reported 48 deaths from contaminated fentanyl across 11 of 19 affected healthcare facilities. The contaminated batches, linked to Pharma Group SA and Ramallo SA laboratories, caused fatal invasive infections due to Klebsiella pneumoniae and Ralstonia mannitolilytica bacteria.

• Wednesday, June 25th 2025 - 06:59 UTC

  Belgian monarchs land in Chile

  

  King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium arrived Tuesday on a State trip to Chile, where they were welcomed by President Gabriel Boric Font at La Moneda Palace. The visit aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in energy, mining, and science, reflecting the strong friendship and shared values between the two countries.

• Monday, June 23rd 2025 - 21:38 UTC

  Measles epidemic reported in Bolivia

  

  Bolivian health authorities confirmed 50 cases of measles plus another 300 under suspicion, which prompted the declaration of an epidemic, primarily in Santa Cruz, with additional detections in La Paz and Potosí.

• Saturday, June 21st 2025 - 10:55 UTC

  Tattooing or piercing pets becomes a federal offense in Brazil

  

  Starting this week, Brazilian animal owners who have their domestic pets tattooed or pierced for aesthetic purposes face between two and five years in prison, in addition to a fine, plus losing custody of the animal. The penalty also applies to anyone allowing this to happen and is aggravated if the animal dies in the process or as a result thereof.

• Friday, June 20th 2025 - 10:13 UTC

  Spanish researchers speak of Gibraltar's “tropicalization”

  

  A study by the Málaga-based Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO-CSIC) documents a “tropicalization” process in the Strait of Gibraltar and Alboran Sea, where rising water temperatures, Atlantic connections, exotic species invasions, and high human activity (e.g., maritime traffic and tourism) are driving changes in fish species composition.

• Friday, June 20th 2025 - 09:53 UTC

  Chile: Private university joins National Oceanographic Committee

  

  Chile's Universidad San Sebastián (USS) has joined the National Oceanographic Committee (CONA), a public organization coordinated by the Navy's Hydrographic Service (SHOA), bringing together 30 institutions to advance marine science research.

• Wednesday, June 18th 2025 - 08:42 UTC

  Brazil sees opportunity in mRNA vaccine development

  

  Brazil's Alexandre Padilha admitted Tuesday at the at the 15th BRICS Health Ministers' Meeting in Brasilia that his country was seeking to become a global leader in messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine production, leveraging partnerships with national institutions like the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz) and the Sao Paulo-based Butantan Institute. Padilha also reckoned other BRICS countries such as China would be engaged in the initiative.

• Tuesday, June 17th 2025 - 08:29 UTC

  Second case of bird flu confirmed at Brasilia's Zoo

  

  Brazilian authorities confirmed Monday a case of avian flu in an Australian emu found dead at the Brasilia Zoo. The infected bird's enclosure was sanitized to prevent the disease from further spreading, and biosecurity measures were adopted while the facility remains closed to the public until further notice.

• Monday, June 16th 2025 - 20:27 UTC

  Paraguayan authorities concerned over low vaccination rates

  

  Paraguayan health authorities reported Monday that only 64% of the 1,500,000 influenza vaccine doses available nationwide had been applied by the last week of autumn, which represented an underachievement for the Government of President Santiago Peña.