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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, April 4th 2025 - 09:06 UTC

Health & Science

  • Friday, February 7th 2025 - 07:59 UTC

    Scientists discover micro plastics in Antarctica deep field camps

    A view over the Ellsworth Mountains, West Antarctica. Credit: Steve Gibbs, BAS

    Scientists have discovered microplastics in the snow near some of Antarctica’s deep field camps, revealing how far-reaching plastic pollution has become. While not new, it’s the first time these tiny pieces of plastic have been found in remote locations.

  • Wednesday, February 5th 2025 - 23:06 UTC

    Milei pulls Argentina out of WHO

    Leaving the WHO does not mean leaving the PAHO, Health Minister Mario Lugones explained

    Argentine Presidential Spokesman Manuel Adorni announced Wednesday during his morning press briefing that his country would be following in on Donald Trump's steps and withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO), which entailed disbursements totaling around US$ 10 million annually.

  • Monday, February 3rd 2025 - 08:22 UTC

    Mask mandates decreed in Bolivia as school year starts amid Covid-19 fears

    An increase in Covid-19 cases has also been reported in North and Northeast Brazil

    Bolivian authorities decreed schoolchildren should wear facemasks and adopt other sanitary measures such as alcohol gel and hand washing as they return to school Monday to prevent respiratory diseases (i.e. Covid-19) which have been reported to be on the rise.

  • Friday, January 31st 2025 - 09:40 UTC

    Dengue epidemic reported in Ecuador

    An increase in circulation of dengue type 3 was deemed the cause for a recent surge in Brazil

    Ecuador's Health Ministry confirmed Thursday that the South American country was going through a dengue epidemic. Surveillance, Prevention, and Epidemiological Control Undersecretary Teresa Aumala made the announcement during a virtual press conference after 2 deaths and over 4,500 cases were recorded.

  • Thursday, January 30th 2025 - 08:48 UTC

    Falklands, UK inspection commendations for the quality service care at KEMH

    The UK Health and Security Agency also made fourteen recommendations to aid future improvements at KEMH

    Falkland Islands main medical facility, King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) wishes to provide a further update on the previously advertised hospital inspection with a team co-ordinated by the UK Health Security Agency.

  • Wednesday, January 29th 2025 - 10:44 UTC

    Falklands KEMH laboratory receives accreditation from UKAS

    John Woollacott, Director of Health and Social Services congratulated the team and everyone involved over many years to receive this accreditation.

    The King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) is pleased to announce that its food and water laboratory has received accreditation from the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS).

  • Tuesday, January 28th 2025 - 08:06 UTC

    Avian Influenza Prevention Zone extended to all of England; H5N1 human case in West Midlands

    Dr Christine Middlemiss is the UK's Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO). She was appointed UK Chief Vet in December 2017

    The UK Health Security Agency, UKHSA, has confirmed a case of influenza A(H5N1) in a person in the West Midlands region. Simultaneously the UK Chief Veterinary Officer has ordered a new Avian Influenza Prevention Zone AIPZ to cover the whole of England from noon on Saturday 25 January following the escalating number of cases of avian influenza and continued heightened risk levels in wild birds.

  • Monday, January 27th 2025 - 08:57 UTC

    Chinese researchers use six-legged robotic dogs in Antarctica mission

    Developers hope to extend the battery duration and include other safety features shortly

    Chinese researchers proudly released pictures of the six-legged robot dogs used during the ongoing Antarctic mission at the Zhongshan polar research station this past weekend. These robot dogs can carry up to 100 kilograms of tools and materials and are suitable for operations in extreme weather conditions of -40 degrees Celsius.

  • Monday, January 27th 2025 - 07:58 UTC

    Polar Medal 2025 for British Antarctic Survey staff

    Steve ‘Binky’ Stiglic-Buxton – Electronics Officer (Communications)

    Congratulations to British Antarctic Survey (BAS) staff who have been awarded a Polar Medal in the 2025 New Year’s Honours List for their contributions to improving our understanding of Antarctica, through scientific or technical work in or about the Polar Regions.

  • Friday, January 24th 2025 - 21:10 UTC

    Giant iceberg approaching South Georgia stirs fears

    A23a was confirmed to be intact and 173 miles from South Georgia

    A23a, arguably the world’s largest and oldest iceberg which has been wandering through the South Atlantic and headed for the British Overseas Territory of the South Georgia Islands since last month, has been reported not to have changed course this week nor upped nor melted, thus posing a serious threat to the local fauna. Earlier this week, it was spotted 173 miles (280km) away.