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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, July 5th 2025 - 22:13 UTC

Health & Science

  • Wednesday, May 10th 2017 - 06:44 UTC

    Venezuela health crisis: sharp rise in infant mortality and maternal death rates

    Health Ministry said the number of women dying in childbirth was up 65%, while child deaths were up 30%. There has also been a jump in malaria and diphtheria.

    There has been a sharp rise in infant mortality and maternal death rates in Venezuela. In the first figures released for two years, the Health Ministry said the number of women dying in childbirth was up by 65%, while child deaths were up 30%. There has also been a jump in illnesses such as malaria and diphtheria.

  • Monday, May 8th 2017 - 17:50 UTC

    The Falklands penguins that would not explode

    Yorke Bay is particularly difficult, since mines were placed on top of the sand dunes, but, over 35 years, the dunes have changed shape and shifted with the wind. (Pic Peter Gibbs)

    The Falklands and the efforts to clear minefields left by the Argentine invasion in 1982, which have become de facto nature reserves for penguins, will be aired on BBC Radio 4 under the heading of “Listen to Exploding Penguins”, presented by Peter Gibbs and produced by Matthew Teller. The presentation will be Tuesday 9 May at 15:30 UK time.

  • Tuesday, May 2nd 2017 - 22:31 UTC

    BAS describes how warm, dry winds weaken Antarctic ice shelves

    In 1995 and 2002, the Larsen A and B ice shelves collapsed, depositing an area the size of half East Falkland into the Weddell Sea.

    New research describes for the first time the role that warm, dry winds play in influencing the behaviour of Antarctic ice shelves. Making a presentation at a European conference scientists from British Antarctic Survey (BAS) explain how spring and summer winds, known as föhn winds, are prevalent on the Larsen C Ice Shelf, West Antarctica and creating melt pools.

  • Thursday, April 20th 2017 - 01:57 UTC

    Punta Arenas plans to seat a major Antarctica scientific research hub

    Governor Jorge Flies said the objective was for at least 1,000 scientists to settle in the Magellan region capital of Punta Arenas

    Chile will build the International Antarctic Center in the southern city of Punta Arenas, meant to become the entering point to the white continent for the world. The Governor of the Magellan region and the Chilean Antarctic, Jorge Flies stated this week that there were 35 projects developing in his jurisdiction, in three important areas.

  • Thursday, April 13th 2017 - 07:17 UTC

    Radical increase in water and sanitation investment required to meet development targets

    “Almost two billion people use a source of drinking-water contaminated with feces, putting them at risk of cholera, dysentery, typhoid and polio,” says Dr Maria Neira

    Countries are not increasing spending fast enough to meet the water and sanitation targets under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), says a new report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on behalf of UN-Water – the United Nations inter-agency coordination mechanism for all freshwater-related issues, including sanitation.

  • Wednesday, April 12th 2017 - 10:27 UTC

    Chilean salmon sold in Buenos Aires revealed high contents of antibiotic residue

    Chilean salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) ”have antibiotic residues above the limit allowed by the International Codex Alimentarius (Codex Alimentarius)

    A study performed by the Institute of Technology of UADE Foundation found that 66% of the salmon fillets imported from Chile that are marketed in the fish farms of the City of Buenos Aires contain remains of antibiotics “that can affect the health of those who consume it ”.

  • Tuesday, April 11th 2017 - 15:55 UTC

    Brazil beef exports should return to normal in May, says the industry

    “As Brazil's main clients resume purchases from Brazil, shipments will return to levels close to normality between April and May,” the statement said.

    Brazil's beef exports should return to normal levels between April and May as the country's efforts to reverse import bans have started to bear fruit in the wake of a food safety scandal that surfaced last month, industry group Abrafrigo said.

  • Monday, April 10th 2017 - 04:55 UTC

    Falkland Islands Government appoints Director of Health & Social Services

    Mandy is a registered nurse and has several qualifications in Religious Studies & Education, Health Education & Health Promotion.

    The Falkland Islands Government has announced the appointment of Mandy Whittingham as the new Director of Health & Social Services. Mandy is a registered nurse and has several qualifications in Religious Studies & Education, Health Education & Health Promotion.

  • Wednesday, April 5th 2017 - 05:30 UTC

    UK candidate for WHO Director General, David Nabarro, visits Uruguay

    Dr. Nabarro (R) meets Uruguayan Healthcare Minister Dr. Jorge Basso and other officials in Montevideo

    Dr David Nabarro, one of the three candidates for Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), visited Uruguay 23-24 March. During his stay he met with Health Minister Jorge Basso and Vice Minister Cristina Lustemberg, and with Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa, to explain his objectives and his vision for a better WHO, and to hear about Uruguay’s health situation, objectives and challenges.

  • Friday, March 31st 2017 - 07:40 UTC

    WHO dispatched 3.5 million doses of yellow fever vaccine for outbreak in Brazil

    Brazilian authorities formally requested the ICG for 3.5 million doses of yellow fever vaccine which arrived in Rio on 24 March for vaccination campaigns

    In response to the yellow fever outbreak currently on-going in Brazil some 3.5 million doses of vaccine from the emergency stockpile were deployed to the country through the International Coordinating Group (ICG) on Vaccine Provision for yellow fever.