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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, October 26th 2025 - 03:30 UTC

Health & Science

  • Saturday, August 26th 2023 - 16:46 UTC

    WHO issues update on Covid-19 as cases multiply globally

    The increase in cases has been linked to sublineages of the Omicron variant gaining predominance in virus transmission.

    The World Health Organization (WHO) said in its latest weekly report on Covid-19 that nearly 1.5 million new cases of the malady and over 2,000 deaths had been confirmed globally. The WHO also issued an alert over the appearance of a new strain in several countries.

  • Thursday, August 24th 2023 - 10:20 UTC

    Discovery of a new species of Antarctic strawberry feather, a 20 tentacle creature

    The Antarctic strawberry feather star gets its name from the strawberry-like nub on its body, from which string like appendages called cirri protrude anchor the animal to the seafloor

    Researchers have discovered an otherworldly, 20-tentacled creature lurking in the freezing depths of the Antarctic Ocean. Resembling an alien or a Lovecraftian horror, the Antarctic strawberry feather star (Promachocrinus fragarius) is one of four new species of crinoids that scientists found at the bottom of the ocean, reports an article in Live Science.

  • Wednesday, August 23rd 2023 - 08:49 UTC

    Sea lions in Necochea died of avian flu?

    Most of the sea lions found on the beaches were buried in the sand

    Argentine authorities are investigating whether the death of around 40 sea lions inside the port terminal of Necochea / Quequén was due to an outbreak of avian flu, it was reported Tuesday. A colony of about 400 sea lions is usually to be found there.

  • Monday, August 21st 2023 - 15:51 UTC

    Exclusive images from Uruguay's heroic cruise ship rescue revealed

    The movie has interviews with Salinas, Talvi, the doctor who took care of the sick people on the cruise, the passengers, and the current Health Minister, Karina Rando.

    Almost two years after the documentary “Greg Mortimer: In Search of a Land of Solidarity” (Greg Mortimer: En busca de una tierra solidaria in Spanish) was premiered in cinemas, the former Health Minister of Uruguay, Daniel Salinas, shared some new pictures from the time when the country helped people on a cruise ship stuck due to COVID-19. He posted these pictures on his X account (which used to be called Twitter).

  • Monday, August 21st 2023 - 10:43 UTC

    World scientists call for more research on the Southern Ocean and climate change

    An Iceberg in the Southern Ocean.

    Three hundred scientists from 25 nations have met this week in the Antarctic gateway city of Hobart, Australia, for the first-ever international conference of the Southern Ocean Observing System, SOOS.

  • Saturday, August 19th 2023 - 09:28 UTC

    Bird flu emergency suspended in Uruguay

    The sanitary emergency had been imposed due to the appearance of a case of influenza in a black-necked swan in Rocha

    Uruguayan authorities Friday announced that the sanitary emergency decreed on Feb. 15 would be lifted for 60 days. Hence, the traditional Expo Prado fair starting in Montevideo on Sept. 8 will feature a poultry show, it was reported.

  • Friday, August 18th 2023 - 10:23 UTC

    Advances announced in pig kidneys transplanted to humans

    Xenotransplantation would bring on a whole new set of opportunities for patients in need of organs

    Physicians at New York University's Langone Health Medical Center have managed to keep the kidney of a genetically modified pig to function in a patient's body for 32 consecutive days, it was reported this week.

  • Thursday, August 17th 2023 - 19:51 UTC

    US approves consumption and sale of “cell-cultivated chicken”

    Proponents of cultured meat say it’s healthier and more environmentally friendly than traditional meat. Outside the U.S., only Singapore has cleared the sale of cell-cultured meat.

    The U.S. Department of Agriculture is revolutionizing the meat industry, it has approved the sale of cell-cultured chicken in a landmark decision that clears the path for consumers to try it out themselves, the two startups that received the first approvals announced.

  • Tuesday, August 15th 2023 - 09:58 UTC

    New Covid-19 subvariant detected in Argentina

    Eris is feared to cause an increase in the incidence of cases and become dominant in some countries or even globally

    Argentine health authorities have confirmed the detection in the South American country of the new Eris subvariant of the Covid-19 virus. The cases were confirmed in Cordoba and in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires, it was reported. EG.5, a sublineage of the rapidly spreading Omicron variant, has already been found in the United States, Mexico, Ecuador, and Colombia.

  • Saturday, August 12th 2023 - 10:47 UTC

    Bird flu detected in dead sea lions on Tierra del Fuego shores

    “Two previous suspicions in sea lions had been treated in the country and were negative,” Senasa pointed out

    Argentine authorities Friday confirmed the detection of the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5 in sea lions found dead on the Tierra del Fuego shores.