Health & Science

• Wednesday, January 31st 2024 - 10:50 UTC

  First human case of equine encephalomyelitis in Uruguay

  

  Uruguay's Public Health Ministry reported on Tuesday the first human-positive case of western equine encephalomyelitis, while the number of infected dead horses has reached 261 and the viral disease has now extended to eighteen of nineteen counties, according to the Agriculture and Livestock Ministry.

• Tuesday, January 30th 2024 - 10:50 UTC

  Effects on climate change by disturbing the seabed, BAS and Norway scientists

  

  A study published this month in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science reveals that disturbing the seabed, through activities such as trawling, could increase the scale and speed of climate change.

• Tuesday, January 30th 2024 - 10:41 UTC

  Survey in Falklands' small islands shows avian flu is continues to threaten

  

  Following on the Falkland Islands Natural Resources Department update on confirmed avian influenza (bird flu) case – Steeple Jason Island, northwest of the archipelago, it has been reported that Falklands Conservation carried out a surveillance visit in January 2024 and found dead albatross chicks in their thousands as well as low levels of rockhopper and skua mortalities. A further set of several more swabs were collected.

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

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

  

  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

  

  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

  

  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

  

  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

  

  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

  

  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.