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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, April 2nd 2026 - 18:09 UTC

Health & Science

  • Monday, June 24th 2024 - 10:00 UTC

    Considerable increase in dengue cases in Argentina

    So far this year 358 people have been reported to have died of dengue in Argentina

    The number of dengue cases in Argentina this year has crossed the 512,000 threshold representing a 318% year-on-year increase, despite a ten-week downward trend presently. The Health Ministry's National Epidemiological Bulletin (BEN) mentioned 512,458 cases in the first 24 weeks of the year, or 97% of the 529,625 contagions this season, which began in Epidemiological Week 31 of 2023.

  • Saturday, June 22nd 2024 - 06:37 UTC

    BAS three winter stations celebrate the longest night in Antarctica

    Midwinter falls when the sun is at its furthest point and some of the frozen continent will be experiencing 24 hours of darkness on its shortest day.

    June 21st marks the longest night in Antarctica and a very special Midwinter’s Day with 47 people or ‘winterers’ living and working at British Antarctic Survey’s (BAS) three winter stations: Rothera on the Antarctic peninsula, and King Edward Point and Bird Island on South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands.

  • Thursday, June 13th 2024 - 10:11 UTC

    WHO Europe blames four industries for merchandising policies that kill millions

    WHO said, 1.15 million deaths per year in Europe are caused by smoking, 426,857 by alcohol, 117,290 by diets high in processed meats and 252,187 diets high in salt.

    WHO Europe called for strict regulation to curb industry power and promote public health following a report blaming tobacco, alcohol, ultra-processed foods, and fossil fuels for some 2,7 million deaths in the continent.

  • Tuesday, June 11th 2024 - 09:11 UTC

    Argentina not endorsing WHO's Pandemic Treaty

    In Argentina, decisions are made by the Argentines,” Adorni stressed

    Argentina will not endorse the World Health Organization (WHO) sponsored Pandemic Treaty, Presidential Spokesperson Manuel Adorni announced Monday.

  • Monday, June 10th 2024 - 09:10 UTC

    Respiratory diseases surge in Argentina as fewer people get jabbed

    “The problem is people's lack of risk awareness,” an expert explained

    Argentine healthcare experts in the Buenos Aires area said this weekend that medical wards were on the brink of collapse given the number of people seeking attention with symptoms of influenza or other respiratory diseases such as influenza A or pneumonia. At the same time, they encouraged the population to get vaccinated against the flu because coverage this year was below 40% while cases went up by 15% from 2023.

  • Monday, June 10th 2024 - 07:06 UTC

    Cattle in eleven US states with outbreaks of avian flu H5N1

    Samples were collected and sent to the University of Minnesota Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, which confirmed the presence of the virus in cows

    With the outbreak of Avian flu H5N1 in Minnesota, Midwest state bordering Canada, the number of infected cattle in the United States confirmed has reached over eighty animals across some eleven states. Besides Minnesota the other states with infected cattle include, South Dakota, New Mexico, Michigan, Iowa, Idaho, Ohio, Colorado and North Carolina.

  • Monday, June 10th 2024 - 06:22 UTC

    Montevideo launches mobile flu vaccination

    The sanitary campaign gained momentum in the last few weeks

    Health teams from Montevideo's City Council will start canvassing the Uruguayan capital from Monday through Friday with mobile vaccination units to foster immunization against influenza and also Covid-19. The initiative comes at a time of high circulation of respiratory viruses, it was explained.

  • Thursday, June 6th 2024 - 19:50 UTC

    Bolivian President thanks Putin for Russia's partnership

    Broader talks are to be arranged for the near future regarding Russian-Bolivian cooperation, it was reported in St Petersburg

    Bolivian President Luis Arce Catacora held a meeting with his Russian colleague Vladimir Putin on the sides of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) during which both leaders agreed on joint undertakings in the South American country regarding lithium battery production in addition to discussing other bilateral topics of interest.

  • Thursday, June 6th 2024 - 09:52 UTC

    First human death due to avian flu reported

    The Mexican case came after H5N1 cases appeared in recent weeks in dairy cows in the United States

    A 59-year-old man in Mexico was reported Wednesday to be the first person ever to die of avian flu A(H5N2), the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed on its website about the patient who passed away on April 24. The source of exposure to the virus usually circulating in poultry remains unknown and the victim had no history of contact with these animals.

  • Tuesday, June 4th 2024 - 09:21 UTC

    Leptospirosis taking its toll on Rio Grande do Sul flood victims

    Twelve other deaths are still under investigation, Rio Grande do Sul's Health Ministry also said

    Health authorities in the Brazilian flood-hit State of Rio Grande do Sul Rio Grande do Sul confirmed Monday that an eighth patient had died of leptospirosis, Agencia Brasil reported. The victim was a 31-year-old man from São Leopoldo who had prolonged exposure to contaminated water.