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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, December 15th 2025 - 16:52 UTC

Health & Science

  • Tuesday, January 30th 2024 - 10:36 UTC

    Covid 19: Sales of facemasks and alcohol gel on the rise in Argentina

    There is a considerable number of positive cases in the pediatric age group in Argentina

    Despite the ongoing economic crisis, a sharp increase in sales of facemasks (15%) and alcohol gel (10%) was reported amid a surge in Covid-19 detections, the Argentine Union of Pharmacists and Biochemists (SAFyB) said. In this scenario, federal health authorities have again recommended people update their vaccination scheme against the malady.

  • Monday, January 29th 2024 - 10:22 UTC

    Dengue: Paraguayan authorities ready despite surge in number of cases

    “Most of those who consult or are hospitalized are children,” Cabello explained

    Although Paraguayan health authorities are already speaking of a dengue epidemic, particularly among children, the South American country's sanitary network has been reported to be ready for whatever lies ahead, even if combined with a surge of Covid-19 cases, it was reported in Asunción.

  • Friday, January 26th 2024 - 10:56 UTC

    Covid-19: Facemasks mandatory again at Bolivian schools

    Facemasks will be mandatory for pupils, teachers, and school staff when classes resume next week

    Bolivian health authorities will be requiring school pupils to wear facemasks upon returning to classes next week as part of a set of preventive measures taken given an increase in the number of cases of Covid-19, Ministers María Renée Castro (Health) and Édgar Pary (Education) announced in La Paz.

  • Thursday, January 25th 2024 - 15:03 UTC

    Scientists on board RRS Sir David Attenborough set to unlock Southern Ocean’s carbon secrets

    Scientists are embarking on an ambitious 30-day scientific expedition on board RRS Sir David Attenborough

    A team of scientists are embarking on an ambitious 30-day scientific expedition on board Falkland Islands flagged RRS Sir David Attenborough to investigate how carbon dioxide moves and transforms in the Southern Ocean. The ship heads to the Weddell Sea to begin the PICCOLO cruise this week, from Punta Arenas, Chile.

  • Thursday, January 25th 2024 - 10:12 UTC

    Uruguay's Society of Pediatrics advises against Covid-19 vax for kids

    According to Uruguay's Health Ministry (MSP), Covid-19 activity has remained at “intermediate-high levels” in recent weeks

    Uruguay's Society of Pediatrics Wednesday issued a statement in Montevideo advising against vaccinating children against COVID-19 and insisting on the convenience of other non-pharmacological measures to prevent the spread of the malady.

  • 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.