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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, January 29th 2026 - 02:54 UTC

Health & Science

  • Wednesday, January 15th 2025 - 10:33 UTC

    Paraguayans flock to yellow fever vaccination centers

    Vaccination is mandatory for Paraguayans traveling to Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, and Peru

    Paraguayan health authorities reported an increase in the demand for the yellow fever vaccine from people willing to travel to Brazil for the summer season.

  • Wednesday, January 15th 2025 - 10:21 UTC

    Antarctica historic milestone, successful drilling of a 2.800 meters long ice core, more than 1.2 million years old

    “We have a strong indication that the uppermost 2,480 meters contain a climate record that goes back to 1.2 million years,” Julien Westhoff, chief scientist in the field at Copenhagen University

    The fourth Antarctic campaign of the Beyond EPICA-Oldest Ice project has achieved a historic milestone this week, by successfully drilling a 2800-metre-long ice core, consisting of ice from the Antarctic ice sheet which is more than 1.2 million years old.

  • Monday, January 13th 2025 - 08:44 UTC

    Chile: Starwatching endangered by industrial project

    The Paranal Observatory is arguably South America's main such facility given the geographical conditions surrounding it which may be spoilt by the electricity company's plan

    The clarity of Chilean skies in the Atacama Desert may be in jeopardy given a project entertained by the electricity company AES Andes which could significantly affect the operations of the Paranal Observatory.

  • Monday, January 13th 2025 - 06:06 UTC

    Climate change watchdogs concur 2024 was the hottest year ever

    “We didn't have just one or two record years, but a full ten-year series,” WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo of Argentina said

    Last year was the hottest on record and it even surpassed the global warming limit, the European Union's Copernicus Earth Observation Program and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) concurred. In addition, 2023 and 2024 saw average global temperatures exceed the internationally agreed 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold

  • Friday, January 10th 2025 - 10:29 UTC

    Presence of serotype 3 of dengue virus worries Brazilian authorities

    In the last four weeks of 2024, 84% of dengue cases were mainly in São Paulo, Espírito Santo, Minas Gerais, Paraná, Goiás, and Santa Catarina

    Brazilian health authorities have expressed concern following the reappearance of the dengue virus serotype 3, particularly in the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, Amapá, and Paraná since the last four weeks of December, Agência Brasil reported Thursday. The virus has not circulated predominantly in the country since 2008. According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the disease generated a “historic epidemic in the Americas” in 2024, with more than 12.6 million cases.

  • Thursday, January 9th 2025 - 17:33 UTC

    Falkland Islands completes Tussac House, a new facility for adult care

    The facility has been handed over to the Health and Social Services Department, which is preparing it for operation. Photo: FIG

    The Falkland Islands Government (FIG) announced the completion of Tussac House, a new facility designed to provide care and support for the community’s most vulnerable members. Construction, led by RSK Falklands Ltd, was finalized on January 3, 2025, with occupancy officially granted today, January 9, following inspections by Planning and Building Services and the Fire and Rescue Service.

  • Wednesday, January 8th 2025 - 21:37 UTC

    Uruguay to launch new Covid-19 vaccination campaign next week

    Only patients needing more than one dose will need a written prescription

    Uruguayan health authorities will launch a vaccination campaign against Covid-19 starting next Monday using Pfizer's Comirnaty JN.1 immunizer adapted to the Omicron JN.1 subvariant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it was announced in Montevideo.

  • Saturday, January 4th 2025 - 10:47 UTC

    Boric reaches South Pole

    “From here everything is north,” Boric said

    Chile's President Gabriel Boric Font Friday became the first Latin American leader and the third worldwide to reach the South Pole, thus consolidating his country's commitment to Antarctica. His feat followed in the footsteps of those authorities from New Zealand in 2007 and Norway in 2011. Boric dubbed his trip “a diplomatic, scientific, environmental and aeronautical milestone.” It also Chile as “the gateway to Antarctica,” he said.

  • Friday, January 3rd 2025 - 10:16 UTC

    Boric South Pole bound after weather problems ruled out

    Boric's journey is supported by the British Antarctic Survey and the UK's Antarctic Program, among other international partners

    Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font's trip to the South Pole was confirmed Thursday by the La Moneda Palace in Santiago after its feasibility had been questioned due to poor weather. The journey between Jan. 2 and 4, will include other officials as well as a scientific team to tour the Union Glacier Joint Scientific Polar Station and the Amundsen-Scott Base.

  • Friday, January 3rd 2025 - 10:10 UTC

    Covid-19 resurfaces abruptly in Bolivian Dept. of Santa Cruz

    Last week 14 Covid-related deaths were reported in Chile

    Health authorities in the Bolivian Department of Santa Cruz Thursday said that an “abrupt” increase in Covid-19 cases had been detected, due to which they encouraged residents to update their vaccination schemes and adopt all biosecurity protocols. A total of 290 infections were reported last week, 11 of which required hospitalization, including three under ventilation in intensive care units, and one death on Dec. 28. All 11 are unvaccinated patients, it was also explained.