Health & Science

• Friday, June 12th 2009 - 17:36 UTC

  Global flu pandemic but no A/H1N1 vaccines until September

  

  The World Health Organization (WHO) declared on Thursday a global flu pandemic after holding an emergency meeting. This means the influenza A/H1N1 virus is spreading in at least two regions of the world with rising cases being seen in the UK, Australia, Japan and Chile.

• Monday, June 8th 2009 - 10:14 UTC

  Possible first case of influenza A/H1N1 in Punta Arenas

  

  A possible first case of influenza A/H1N1 has been detected in Punta Arenas, extreme south of Chile, according to local sanitary authorities. The 24 year old man reacted positive to an indirect immune-fluorescence (IFI) test which identifies the A human influenza virus but further tests are needed to determine if it is the H1N1 variant that is spreading worldwide.

• Thursday, June 4th 2009 - 15:50 UTC

  Six Chilean Business Schools among the best of Latinamerica

  

  A newly released yearly ranking of the best business schools in Latinamerica conducted by América Economia Intelligence placed six Chilean Universities among the top 20.

• Wednesday, June 3rd 2009 - 08:36 UTC

  Chile confirms first A/H1N1 flu death: 37 year man from Puerto Montt

  

  Chile, with a total of over 300 confirmed infections, became the first country in South America to confirm a death of the new influenza virus A/H1N1, the Chilean government said Tuesday.

• Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 - 04:21 UTC

  Chile breakthrough in (Asian nori) algae cultivation

  

  Scientists of Chile’s Universidad Católica (UC) have discovered several varieties of the algae Porphyra in Chile. The Department of Ecology at UC has been studying the details of the reproductive cycle of the algae in order to replicate it in the lab

• Sunday, May 31st 2009 - 15:27 UTC

  “Swine flu cruise” with 2.000 passengers cancels trip to Great Barrier Reef

  

  Eighty-three passengers disembarked in Australia Saturday from the “swine flu ship” Pacific Dawn after it was allowed to dock in Brisbane, officials said.

• Sunday, May 31st 2009 - 15:17 UTC

  WHO: Tobacco packages must use pictorial warnings

  

  For another year in a row the World Health Organization (WHO) declares May 31 for a world no-smoking day. It draws global attention to the widespread prevalence of tobacco use and to its negative health effects. Every year the WHO joins all the people worldwide around a topic towards reducing tobacco consumption. This year’s subject is: health warning messages on the packaging of cigarettes and other tobacco products.

• Thursday, May 28th 2009 - 08:35 UTC

  First two “imported” cases of A/H1N1 influenza in Uruguay

  

  Uruguay’s Public Health Minister, María Julia Muñoz, confirmed the first two cases of influenza A (H1N1) in her country during a press conference Wednesday. One of the two Uruguayans infected is 24-years-old and the other is a 15-year-old minor, who had both travelled to Argentina and returned to their country without apparent symptoms.

• Thursday, May 28th 2009 - 06:50 UTC

  Paraguay confirmed as free of FMD with vaccination

  

  Paraguay, Colombia and Bolivia have been confirmed to the list of countries declared free of foot and mouth disease with vaccination at the current World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) 77th session in Paris.

• Tuesday, May 26th 2009 - 06:00 UTC

  Fire turns Antarctica hut favoured by Sir Hillary into a total loss

  

  An isolated hut in Antarctica favoured by explorer Sir Edmund Hillary has burnt down after a fuel leak during a routine inspection at minus 35C. Antarctica New Zealand said the “iconic” A-frame timber and bitumen hut on the Ross Ice Shelf went up in flames during re-ignition of the heater. A spokesman said the hut, stationed on the ice since 1971, ”will be sadly missed