
World Health Organization (WHO) experts have expressed their concern after two cases of humans catching H5N1 avian flu were confirmed this week. During a virtual press conference Friday, WHO Director of Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention Sylvie Briand said the situation was worrying.

Effective this month, a decree signed by Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou on Feb.16 requires all foreign travelers entering the country to have medical insurance, regardless of whether they arrive by land, sea, or air. The same measure, which has also been approved by the Council of Ministers, also lifts all previous Covid-19 requisites.

Researchers from Argentina's National Council for Scientific and Technical Research (CONICET) came up with penguin fossil indicators of a historical separation between Antarctica and South America, it was reported Wednesday.

Brazil's Ministry of Agriculture announced Wednesday that even though it poses no threat to human consumers, beef exports to China are to be halted effective Thursday after a case of the mad-cow disease has been confirmed in the State of Pará, Agencia Brasil reported.

Argentina's health authorities have decided to up their biosecurity measures following the increase in the number of avian flu cases detected nationwide, particularly in provinces bordering Uruguay, but also in Córdoba and Salta.

Uruguay's Ministry of Livestock, Agriculture, and Fisheries (MGAP) sought technical advice from Chile to handle the current bird flu crisis, it was reported Friday in Montevideo.

Uruguay declared a sanitary emergency nationwide Wednesday following the detection of bird flu in a black-necked swan in the department (province) of Maldonado, some 180 kilometers from the border with Brazil.

Argentine authorities have declared a state of emergency after the first case of avian influenza was confirmed in wild birds in the northern province of Jujuy bordering Bolivia.

Following the death of nine people due to the so-called Marburg virus, the World Health Organization (WHO) has convened an emergency meeting to discuss measures against the spread of a deadly pathogen, which is similar to Ebola in its effects, it was reported Tuesday.

Two Argentine opposition Senators have requested the Foreign affairs and Defense Ministries to report on the ”unrestricted movements of the UK RRS Sir David Attenborough, flying the 'illegal flag of the Falklands', and sailing between Port Stanley (Puerto Argentino) and Punta Arena (Chile), and the implicit and vital logistic support provided to the vessel by the government of Chile.”