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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, November 21st 2024 - 22:00 UTC

Health & Science

  • Tuesday, January 23rd 2024 - 11:08 UTC

    Falklands confirms new avian influenza (bird flu) case, gentoo penguins on Sea Lion Island

    Since Monday 30 October 2023, 66 suspect birds/animals have been reported, 40 have been swabbed. Five have returned positive results and 35 negative results. Photo: Nick Warner

    On Thursday 18 January, swabs from 3 dead gentoo penguins from Sea Lion returned positive results for highly pathogenic avian influenza. Several gentoo chicks (20-30) and a few adults (1-4) were observed dead or symptomatic. Given the proximity of the affected colony to the airstrip and residential area of the Island and the density of wildlife in the area, a level 3 response will be followed and the whole of Sea Lion Island is declared an infected place. No persons are permitted to visit Sea Lion Island without authorization from the Director of Natural Resources.

  • Tuesday, January 23rd 2024 - 11:05 UTC

    BAS scientists carry out aerial survey of sub-Antarctic largest penguin colony

    Zavodovski Island is home to the largest penguin colony in the world. John Dickens, BAS.

    Researchers from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) have carried out aerial surveys of the remote volcanic Zavodovski Island in the sub-Antarctic to count the largest penguin colony in the world.

  • Tuesday, January 23rd 2024 - 11:00 UTC

    New strain of Covid-19 detected in Brazil

    The fatal victim already had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

    Brazilian authorities Monday confirmed the detection of four cases of the JN 2.5 subvariant of the SARS-Cov-2 virus in the state of Mato Grosso. The patients were reported to be all female and hospitalized in a serious condition. One of them even died. However, the Mato Grosso State Health Department said there was no reason to panic because at this point “it is not possible to say that the cause of death was COVID-19” since ”the patient already had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).”

  • Saturday, January 20th 2024 - 10:39 UTC

    Ecuadorean druglord family found in Argentina and deported back to Ecuador

    It is very typical of gang leaders to find a safe place for their families so that they are not involved in criminal behavior, Bullrich explained

    Law enforcement officers in the Argentine province of Córdoba raided a residence in an exclusive country club and arrested the wife and children of Ecuadorean druglord Alfonso Macías, alias “Fito,” whose escape from jail earlier this month triggered a wave of unprecedented violence nationwide.

  • Saturday, January 20th 2024 - 10:32 UTC

    Bolsonaro's Covid-19 vax card proven to be fake

    Bolsonaro has always claimed never to have taken a Covid-19 vaccine

    Brazilian authorities have determined that former President Jair Bolsonaro produced false certificates attesting to his vaccination against Covid-19 to enter the United States, it was reported this week.

  • Friday, January 19th 2024 - 10:54 UTC

    Argentina reports more Covid-19 patients in ICU

    “The current issue is vaccination,” Dubin said

    Argentina's sanitary system is noticing an increase in the number of patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICUs) with Covid-19 during the first weeks of January, it was reported Thursday in Buenos Aires. ICU specialist Arnaldo Dubin spoke to local media about “mainly elderly patients, with many comorbidities and an out-of-date vaccination schedule.”

  • Thursday, January 18th 2024 - 10:41 UTC

    Uruguayan homes for the elderly not fond of Covid-19 vax booster doses

    Vaccinated or not, people still get infected, they argued

    One day after Uruguay's Health Ministry announced a new Covid-19 vaccination campaign, a business guild bringing together homes for the elderly announced no booster doses would be encouraged on their part.

  • Thursday, January 18th 2024 - 10:15 UTC

    HMS Forth helps to understand extent of avian flu in South Georgia

    A seal keeps watch on HMS Forth at Grytviken

    Crew of Royal Navy Falklands patrol ship HMS Forth helped scientists understand the global impact of bird flu as the ship resumed South Atlantic duties after nearly a year away. The ship transported an expert to the island chain of South Georgia to see if the disease had reached the sub-Antarctic for the first time.

  • Wednesday, January 17th 2024 - 10:58 UTC

    Uruguay launching new Covid-19 vaccination campaign

    This monovalent vaccine has “an important coverage against all circulating strains,” Rando explained

    Uruguayan authorities have launched a vaccination campaign against Covid-19 as the malady is spreading nationwide with a “moderate intensity,” it was reported in Montevideo. The Health Ministry said 330,000 booster vaccines have become available.

  • Monday, January 15th 2024 - 10:43 UTC

    ITA Airways flight makes emergency landing in Montevideo due to passenger's death

    The flight crew called for any medical professionals among the passengers, and appropriate resuscitation measures were taken. Unfortunately, the passenger could not be revived

    An ITA Airways flight traveling from Rome to Buenos Aires had to make an emergency landing at Carrasco Airport in Montevideo this morning following the death of a passenger, according to airport sources.