Health & Science

• Thursday, January 17th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Brucellosis outbreak hits Italy's mozzarella producing buffalos

  

  The production of one of Italy's best known exports, mozzarella, is under threat from an infection of brucellosis spreading through herds of water buffalo. The Italian government has set up an emergency commission to try and stop the spread of the disease, which affects milk production.

• Wednesday, January 16th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Fossilized skull of largest rodent found in Uruguay

  

  The fossilized skull of the largest rodent ever recorded has been described by scientists for the first time. The remains of the one-ton beast, found in Uruguay, indicate that it would have been as big as a bull.

• Wednesday, January 16th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Toxic algae forces Uruguay to ban mollusk consumption

  

  Uruguay's Aquatic Resources Directorate (DINARA) on Tuesday extended for another ten days the ban on extraction, trade and transport of bivalve mollusks (mussels, cockles and clams) as the red tide continues to expand along the country's Atlantic coastline.

• Monday, January 14th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil denies yellow fever epidemic, but suggests vaccination

  

  Brazil faces no risk of a yellow fever epidemic, despite an outbreak that killed two people last week in the capital, Health Minister Jose Gomes Temporao said in Brasilia.

• Sunday, January 13th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Ecuador's Tungurahua Volcano Spews Rocks, Ash

  

  Ecuador's Tungurahua volcano on Saturday hurled fiery rocks and sent a column of ash and steam 1 1/2 miles above its crater. Experts have warned that Tungurahua is poised for a major eruption within a matter of days or weeks.

• Sunday, January 13th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Brazil yellow fever: Gov. has launched a vaccination campaign

  

  The Brazilian Government has launched a vaccination campaign after the health ministry confirmed that a man in the capital Brasilia died from yellow fever.

• Saturday, January 12th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Bird flu: US/Chile coordinate detection in Tierra del Fuego

  

  A United States delegation from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (Department of Agriculture) visited Punta Arenas and Tierra del Fuego to coordinate efforts with their Chilean counterparts in preventing the appearance of invasive pathologies, particularly avian influenza (H5N1 strain) or bird flu.

• Sunday, January 6th 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Prepare for one of the top hottest year on record say experts

  

  World temperatures will cool slightly this year but 2008 will remain among the top 10 hottest years on record (since 1850), predicted British weather experts and the University of East Anglia.

• Thursday, January 3rd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Plume of ash and gas from Chilean volcano drifting to Argentina

  

  The eruption of Llaima, one of the most active volcanoes in Chile has had an impact in the neighboring province of Neuquén, Argentina, where a yellow alert is on and an emergency plan has been elaborated.

• Wednesday, January 2nd 2008 - 20:00 UTC

  Paris and Berlin ban cafe smoking beginning Jan 1

  

  Smoking has been banned in bars in the capitals of France and Germany but the laws will not be enforced immediately.