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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, July 3rd 2025 - 17:22 UTC

Health & Science

  • Tuesday, May 20th 2025 - 10:38 UTC

    Other countries stop buying chicken meat from Brazil

    “It is temporary, until the reality of the problem in Brazil is known,” explained Virginia Russi from the Uruguayan Agriculture and Livestock Ministry

    Mexico, Chile, and Uruguay have joined China, the European Union, and Argentina in temporarily suspending chicken imports from Brazil due to an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) detected on a commercial farm in Montenegro, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s third-largest chicken-producing state.

  • Tuesday, May 20th 2025 - 10:12 UTC

    WHO in dire straits without US funding

    “In at least 70 countries, patients are not receiving their treatments,” Tedros said

    The World Health Organization (WHO) is reducing its 2026-2027 budget from US$ 5.3 billion to US$ 4.2 billion to cope with the financial challenges stemming from US President Donald Trump's decision to pull his country out of the United Nations agency.

  • Monday, May 19th 2025 - 19:05 UTC

    Bird flu: Brazil could resume chicken exports in 28 days, says Minister Fávaro

    If in 28 days there are no more cases, we can once again be bird-flu free, Fávaro explained

    Brazil could resume chicken meat exports in 28 days if no new cases of avian influenza are reported, Agriculture Minister Carlos Fávaro told reporters Monday. He also pointed out that strict containment measures were in place following last week's outbreak.

  • Monday, May 19th 2025 - 10:30 UTC

    Uruguay to assess avian flu outbreak for possible additional precautions

    Some other measures will be reported on Monday, Carámbula announced

    Uruguayan authorities will be convening Monday to decide which steps to take in the face of an avian flu outbreak in Brazil's Rio Grande do Sul. Montevideo has already issued an alert, urging producers to strengthen biosecurity measures.

  • Saturday, May 17th 2025 - 10:59 UTC

    Brazil halts chicken exports due to bird flu outbreak

    Brazil hopes to resume shipments to China in less than 60 days, Fávaro explained

    Following the outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil suspended chicken meat exports to China, the European Union, and Argentina, adhering to sanitary protocols. China, Brazil’s largest chicken buyer (importing over 561,000 tons in 2024), imposed a 60-day import ban, while the EU and Argentina also halted imports until Brazil is declared virus-free.

  • Saturday, May 17th 2025 - 10:04 UTC

    Brazil: Avian influenza case confirmed in Porto Alegre

    Brazil has been monitoring avian flu since the 2000s

    Brazil's Agriculture and Livestock Ministry confirmed Friday the first case of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) on a commercial poultry farm in Montenegro, in the Metropolitan Region of Porto Alegre, in Rio Grande do Sul.

  • Saturday, May 17th 2025 - 04:59 UTC

    Paraguay on alert over avian flu outbreak in neighboring Brazil

    The Senacsa adopted this measure while awaiting clearance to start beef exports to the Philippines

    Paraguay's National Service of Animal Quality and Health (Senacsa) issued Friday a sanitary alert, urging officials, producers, and citizens to report sick or dead birds and avoid handling them to prevent disease spread. The measure was adopted after Brazil confirmed its first outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in a commercial poultry farm in Rio Grande do Sul.

  • Friday, May 16th 2025 - 22:11 UTC

    Universidad Austral study finds Argentina's population to be ageing

    Argentina's fertility rate is below replacement values

    A study by the Universidad Austral’s Human Development Observatory, based on data from Argentina's National Institute of Statistics and Census (Indec), showed significant demographic shifts in the South American country, with the number of births dropping by 40% since 2014.

  • Monday, May 12th 2025 - 11:19 UTC

    France to resume parliamentary debate on assisted dying

    French Guiana could join Colombia as the only other place in South America allowing euthanasia

    France's Parliament is expected to resume this week the discussion on whether to legalize euthanasia or any other form of “dignified dying,” with two main bills on the table, one focusing on palliative care and the other seeking to move forward with assisted suicide. The debate had been halted in June when President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly.

  • Saturday, May 10th 2025 - 10:28 UTC

    Irregularities found regarding Covid-19 vaccination in Chile

    A new vaccination strategy is needed, admitted Health Ministry official Elizabeth López

    Chile's Comptroller General of the Republic (CGR) spotted significant irregularities in the Health Ministry's Covid-19 vaccination registry for 2022-2023, such as using expired doses, inoculating deceased recipients, and inventory discrepancies.