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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, May 4th 2024 - 05:38 UTC

Health & Science

  • Monday, October 30th 2023 - 17:36 UTC

    The Wavertree and the Endurance; talk at South Street Seaport Museum, New York

    Mensun Bound and Captain Jonathan Boulware beneath the bow of the Wavertree

    On Tuesday, September 26th, at the South Street Seaport Museum in New York, Falkland Islander, Mensun Bound gave a lecture followed by a book signing of The Ship Beneath the Ice – The Discovery of Shackleton’s Endurance. The event occurred onboard the Wavertree, an old square rigger condemned at Port Stanley in 1910. This gathering was the culmination of a year-long book tour spanning the UK, USA, Canada, and parts of Europe and Scandinavia, during which time the book rose to Number 2 in the UK Best-Seller List.

  • Monday, October 30th 2023 - 08:32 UTC

    Brazilian researchers developing vaccine against cocaine consumption

    The medication would not even require a refrigeration chain to be transported

    A Brazilian-developed vaccine against cocaine addiction is almost ready for public distribution. The drug, named Calixcoca, “would block the effects on the brain,” according to the researchers behind the project.

  • Saturday, October 28th 2023 - 01:09 UTC

    Carnival could face cascade of demands following a ruling on a Covid 19 outbreak in one of its vessels

    The Ruby Princess sailed from Sydney to New Zealand in March 2020, right at the start of the pandemic. Some 2,671 passengers and 1,146 crew were on board.

    Cruise operator Carnival could face a cascade of demands following a ruling by an Australian judge referred to passengers' safety and an outbreak of Covid-19 on board one of its vessels. According to the ruling, the company misled passengers about safety risks and should have canceled a voyage by the Ruby Princess in March 2020 before it departed.

  • Tuesday, October 24th 2023 - 08:55 UTC

    BAS reports first confirmed cases of Avian Influenza in South Georgia; Biosecurity Handbook must be handy

    Brown skua (Catharacta antarctica) on Bird Island, South Georgia (Richard Phillips)

    The highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been confirmed in brown skua populations on Bird Island, South Georgia – the first known cases in the Antarctic region, reported British Antarctic Survey, BAS.

  • Monday, October 23rd 2023 - 05:47 UTC

    Avian flu has caused the death of some 3,000 Humboldt penguins in Chilean coasts

    The Humboldt penguin, a common species along most of Chile's northern coastline

    Some 3,000 Humboldt penguins have died as a consequence of the avian influenza so far in 2023, according to official reports from the Chilean Fisheries National Service, Sernapesca. The data covers the period from February to October 6th and includes the flu death of 21.819 animals, of which 2,917 Humboldt penguins.

  • Saturday, October 21st 2023 - 10:50 UTC

    BAS begins its ambitious 2023/24 Antarctic field season: 60 projects and 600 people

    Twin Otter “Ice Cold Katy” is prepared on the skiway at Rothera (Matt Hughes)

    The British Antarctic Survey has announced that the 2023/24 Antarctic field season has started, with over 600 people beginning the journey South to work on over 60 projects on station and in the field. The season of work speaks clearly to the new 10-year science strategy, Polar Science for a Sustainable Planet, making the most of our operational capabilities across BAS five Antarctic stations, aircraft, and research ship.

  • Thursday, October 19th 2023 - 09:13 UTC

    FIG announces new Director of Health and Social Services

    John Woollacott grew up on a sheep farm in Devon and studied a degree in Pharmacy at the University of Bath

    The Falkland Islands Government has announced the appointment of John Woollacott as the new Director of Health and Social Services, who took up the position on Thursday 12 October 2023.

  • Thursday, October 19th 2023 - 08:55 UTC

    Brazilian Navy begins Operation Antarctica 2023

    The frigate “Liberal” of the MB returned to its base in Rio de Janeiro last week after completing Operation “GUINEX-III” in Africa

    The Brazilian Navy (MB) officially started its Operation Antarctica (OPERANTAR) 2023 last Sunday with the departure of the Oceanographic Support Vessel “Ary Rongel” and the Polar Vessel “Almirante Maximiano”, it was reported. The units will support the Brazilian Antarctic Program (PROANTAR) before returning to the Ilha das Cobras naval base in Rio de Janeiro in April 2024, it was also explained.

  • Monday, October 16th 2023 - 10:08 UTC

    WHO warns patients in Gaza have been given a death sentence

    “We are ready to deploy supplies as soon as humanitarian access to the Strip is established,” Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus wrote

    The World Health Organization (WHO) expressed its concern this past weekend regarding the evacuation of patients from northern Gaza and insisted Israel's ultimatum for 1.1 million people to move to the south was tantamount to “a death sentence,” in addition to the risk that the most critically ill might need to be left behind.

  • Friday, October 13th 2023 - 09:41 UTC

    PAHO new deputy director outlines agency's priorities

    Sealey-Thomas insisted collective efforts were the “engine that drives the construction of healthier, resilient and equitable societies throughout the Americas”

    Pan American Health Organization Deputy Director Rhonda Sealey-Thomas of Antigua and Barbuda said Thursday that non-communicable diseases, climate change, the capacity for resilient health systems, and the urgent need to strengthen pandemic preparedness and response were the main health challenges for the region.