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MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, October 29th 2025 - 01:59 UTC

Tag: COVID-19

  • Thursday, October 2nd 2025 - 10:03 UTC

    Brazilian health experts underscore benefits of Covid-19 vax for pregnant women

    The experts highlighted a decreasing vaccination rate in Brazil this year

    Brazilian health experts echoed this week the findings of a study presented at the American Academy of Pediatrics Congress. Led by researcher Nikan Zargarzadeh of Harvard University and Boston Children's Hospital in the United States, the study analyzed more than 200 primary studies between 2021 and 2023, gathering data from approximately 1.2 million pregnant women.

  • Tuesday, September 2nd 2025 - 19:38 UTC

    Brazilian health officials urge people to update Covid-19 vaccination

    Healthy individuals aged five to 59 are advised to receive one dose per annum

    According to the latest InfoGripe Bulletin from the Rio de Janeiro-based Oswaldo Cruz Foundation (Fiocruz), there has been an increase in cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) due to Covid-19 in four Brazilian states: Rio de Janeiro, Ceará, Amazonas, and Paraíba. While the overall number of severe cases remains low and is not yet significantly impacting hospitalizations, health officials are urging people to keep their vaccinations up to date.

  • Thursday, August 21st 2025 - 20:02 UTC

    New Covid-19 variants detected in Uruguay

    These new variants “have not led to increases in hospitalizations or serious cases,” Lustemberg noted

    Uruguay's Ministry of Public Health (MSP) has confirmed the circulation in the country of the new Covid-19 “Frankenstein” (XFG) and “Nimbus” (NB.1.8.1) variants. The discovery was made through the country's genomic surveillance system after analyzing samples from sentinel centers.

  • Wednesday, August 6th 2025 - 10:02 UTC

    Covid-19: Frankenstein variant detected in Argentina

    “In Argentina, the current situation of SARS-CoV-2 variants is characterized by the exclusive circulation of the Omicron variant,” it was explained

    The XFG variant of Covid-19, nicknamed “Frankenstein” because it is a recombination of two Omicron lineages, has been detected in Argentina, according to the latest edition of the Health Ministry's weekly National Epidemiological Bulletin (BEN), which cited cases from late June and early July, identified through genomic surveillance

  • Monday, July 28th 2025 - 19:28 UTC

    Honduras: Teleworking and mask mandates extended

    The measures came into effect last Thursday on a temporary basis

    Honduras has extended teleworking for public institutions and virtual classes until Aug. due to a surge in respiratory illnesses, including the detection of highly contagious Omicron XFG Covid-19 variants. The government has also made mask-wearing mandatory in various enclosed public spaces such as hospitals, airports, shopping centers, and public transport.

  • Friday, July 25th 2025 - 19:52 UTC

    Honduras decrees contingency measures as Covid-19 cases soar

    The Stratus (or Frankenstein) variant is believed to account for 36% of recent infections

    Honduras is re-implementing several public health measures as cases of Covid-19 have been reported to be on the surge. The Omicron subvariant XFG - also known as Stratus or Frankenstein - is believed to account for 36% of recent infections.

  • Saturday, July 19th 2025 - 10:51 UTC

    New Covid-19 variant detected in Brazil

    Frankenstein has been classified by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a “variant under monitoring”

    A new Covid-19 variant, Stratus (XFG or XFG.3), also known as “Frankenstein” due to its recombinant nature, has been identified in Brazil and is under international surveillance by the World Health Organization (WHO).

  • Tuesday, July 1st 2025 - 10:32 UTC

    Brazilian State of Goiás declares SARS emergency

    Flu vaccination coverage in Goiás is currently 38.96%

    The Brazilian State of Goiás declared Monday a state of emergency due to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) after the incidence rate pierced the expected cap for seven weeks in a row, with 6,743 cases of SARS, including 1,117 cases of influenza, 306 of Covid-19, 1,486 of respiratory syncytial virus, and 680 of rhinovirus.

  • Thursday, June 26th 2025 - 10:27 UTC

    Measles is “more terrible” than Covid-19, says Bolivian president

    Arce meant that measles spreads faster and wider than Covid-19

    Bolivian President Luis Arce Catacora insisted Wednesday that measles was a more severe threat than Covid-19, urging parents to vaccinate children under 5 against the highly contagious viral disease, of which 60 cases have been confirmed nationwide, prompting an emergency declaration.

  • Monday, June 2nd 2025 - 09:18 UTC

    New SARS-CoV-2 variant under WHO close monitoring for its rapid spread

    The subtype poses no additional threat, but the WHO urged governments to remain vigilant

    The World Health Organization has launched a warning about the rapid spread of the NB.1.8.1 variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has been detected so far in at least 22 countries, including Egypt, Thailand, the Maldives, and the United States (New York, California, Arizona, Ohio, Washington, and Rhode Island).

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