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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, December 16th 2025 - 22:17 UTC

Health & Science

  • Saturday, January 14th 2023 - 10:27 UTC

    Sanitary precautions upped in triple-border region

    Only 9 cases of dengue have been registered so far this year in Paraguay, against 1,244 cases of chikungunya

    Sanitary workers in the newly-created county of Fracrán in the Argentine province of Misiones have undertaken a house-by-house campaign to persuade people to get vaccinated against yellow fever, Covid-19, and measles, while residents were advised to up their precautions due to the increasing number of cases in neighboring Paraguay, where the first death due to chikungunya has been reported.

  • Saturday, January 14th 2023 - 10:06 UTC

    WHO updates isolation recommendations for Covid-19 patients

    The UN health agency report specifies that these were only recommendations and that each country should issue its own guidelines

    The World Health Organization Friday shortened to 10 the number of days that a patient testing positive for Covid-19 should remain in isolation. Before Friday, WHO suggested people with symptoms stayed 13 days in isolation while 10 days was only for asymptomatic cases.

  • Friday, January 13th 2023 - 10:40 UTC

    Two humanitarian flights between Argentina and the Falklands carried out this week

    Humanitarian cooperation has remained active between Argentina and the United Kingdom since the South Atlantic war in 1982.

    Two flights between Argentina and the Falkland Islands have been reported in the past few days for humanitarian reasons. One to Ushuaia was to bring an Argentina national and the one to Buenos Aires' Aeroparque was carried out for a US patient.

  • Thursday, January 12th 2023 - 11:20 UTC

    First human patient with avian flu reported in Ecuador

    The consumption of chicken and eggs poses no risk to human health, the authorities insisted

    Ecuadorian health authorities have confirmed the first case of avian influenza in a human patient. The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) announced it was a 9-year-old girl who had been in contact with infected birds in the province of Bolivar.

  • Wednesday, January 11th 2023 - 20:06 UTC

    WHO favors return of facemasks for long-haul passenger flights

    XBB.1.5, now the globally dominant and most contagious variant of the virus

    The World Health Organization Wednesday issued a recommendation whereby countries should foster the wearing of facemasks on long-haul flights amid a growing spread of the XBB.1.5 subvariant of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron strain.

  • Monday, January 9th 2023 - 10:39 UTC

    Captain Polar Preet ready to break another record in the South Pole

    The British Army captain made history by becoming the first woman of colour to cross Antarctica unsupported last year. Photo: Preet Chandi

    British Army officer Captain Preet Chandi has made it to the last degree, which means she is just under 60 nautical miles from the South Pole. Capt Chandi, also known as Polar Preet, has completed day 51, (January 5th), of her 1,100-mile solo trek – a challenge that will see her become the first woman to cross the continent alone with nothing but a 120kg pulk (a sledge used to carry equipment across the snow).

  • Monday, January 9th 2023 - 10:36 UTC

    The Inspire 22 Antarctic research expedition has almost reached the South Pole goal

    The team of 10 set off on 25 November and will ski more than 900km across the polar plateau to the South Pole, carrying all their supplies for up to 55 days.

    The Inspire 22 Antarctic research expedition has less than 100km to go until they reach the South Pole. The team, sponsored in part by BFBS (British Forces Broadcasting System) made up of guides, doctors and physiologists –with a teacher and engineer also joining the expedition, set off in November.

  • Thursday, January 5th 2023 - 10:22 UTC

    Buenos Aires Province under criticism over purchase of intimate lubricant

    Sotelo insisted JxC was into it when the budget was approved

    The Argentine Province of Buenos Aires ruled by the Kirchnerite Axel Kicillof has authorized the disbursement of AR$ 500 million (around US$ 1.42 million at the unofficial exchange rate) to buy intimate gel, thus sparking heavy criticism from the opposition.

  • Wednesday, January 4th 2023 - 10:17 UTC

    Irízar's Antarctic campaign reported on schedule

    In addition to the Irízar, the ARA Canal de Beagle and the polar sloop ARA Estrecho San Carlos are deployed during the campaign

    Argentine icebreaker ARA Almirante Irízar has been reported to have completed a successful call at the Orcadas base, after which supplies were delivered to the Petrel base, as part of the 119th Antarctic Summer Campaign.

  • Tuesday, January 3rd 2023 - 19:07 UTC

    Circulation of Covid-19 increasing in Argentina

    “We started 2023 with a very high circulation of Covid-19, SARS-CoV-2, concomitantly with influenza,” Rearte said

    Argentine health authorities Tuesday warned of an increase in the number of cases of Covid-19 and insisted there was “very high circulation” of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, due to which people were advised to update their vaccination scheme since immunity lasts about 4 months.