International
WHO, “extremely concerned” about the possible outbreak of a polio outbreak in Gaza
The World Health Organization (WHO) said it was “extremely concerned” about a possible polio outbreak in Gaza after detecting type 2 vaccine-based poliovirus (VDPV2) in six environmental samples taken in the Strip.
Although at the moment the virus has only been isolated from the environment, the UN health agency assured that there is a “high risk of spreading” of this outbreak within Gaza and internationally if it does not act “quickly and optimally.”
“We believe that there is a high risk of spreading the circulating poliovirus not only due to its detection, but also to the serious situation of water sanitation in the Strip,” the head of the WHO emergency services in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Ayadil Saberkov, said at a virtual conference from Gaza.
The local official assured that the WHO is already developing epidemiological research and a risk assessment on the ground to identify the source of the detected poliovirus and determine the necessary recommendations in the face of a possible outbreak.
These recommendations will include, for example, the need for a mass vaccination campaign, the type of vaccine to be used and the population group to be vaccinated.
However, asked about the health situation in the Strip, Saberkov acknowledged that the implementation of these measures will be “very difficult” due to the almost total paralysis of the Gaza health system, the lack of water and sanitation and the difficulty of the population to access health services.
Faced with this situation, he said he was “very worried” not only about a possible polio outbreak, but also “about the different outbreaks of communicable diseases that may occur in Gaza.”
WHO hopes to complete its evaluation work during this week and will also transfer its recommendations to the health authorities of neighboring countries, including Egypt, Jordan and Israel, in order to prevent a spread at the international level.
International
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed on Wednesday that the death toll from recent rains and floods across several central states has risen to 66, while the federal government has activated air bridges and prioritized assistance in 191 isolated communities.
“Unfortunately, 66 people have died, and 75 remain missing,” the president said during her morning press conference. She added that the official death toll will be updated later in a new report.
As of Tuesday, authorities had reported 64 fatalities. Sheinbaum also announced the creation of a public information center to centralize official data on the deceased, missing persons, damaged homes, and cut-off communities.
According to the president, the number of missing persons has decreased thanks to coordination with state authorities.
“Through calls to phone line 079, 103 people who had been reported missing have now been located,” she explained.
Priority Municipalities
The president noted that the federal government has classified 191 communities as ‘priority’, a designation based mainly on the percentage of homes affected.
International
New road and bridge explosions raise alarm amid indigenous protests in Ecuador
Ecuadorian authorities are investigating two explosions that occurred early Wednesday, one on a road in the southern part of the country and another under a bridge in Guayas province. These incidents follow the car bomb explosion in the coastal city of Guayaquil, also in Guayas, which occurred the day before and left one person dead and 30 injured.
Press reports indicate that one person was injured and several vehicles were damaged in the explosion on the Cuenca-Girón-Pasaje road in the south.
“Besides yesterday’s explosion in Guayaquil, we have received reports of explosives placed on bridges along the Guayaquil-Machala and Machala-Cuenca routes to disrupt traffic,” said Roberto Luque, Minister of Infrastructure and Transport (MIT).
On his X social media account, Luque reported that authorities have been deployed to the sites to assess the damage and determine the current condition of the structures.
“What they haven’t achieved with their call for a strike, some are trying to achieve through terrorism,” he stated, referring to the 24 days of protests organized by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities (Conaie) against rising diesel prices and other demands.
The protests, called at a national level, have Imbabura province as their epicenter. Roadblocks have also been reported in the northern part of Pichincha province, whose capital is Quito, while activities in the rest of the country continue normally.
International
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Ecuador’s Armed Forces carried out an operation on Monday — including airstrikes — against illegal mining in the town of Buenos Aires, in the country’s north, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo reported.
The mountainous, gold-rich area has been a hotspot for illegal mining since 2017, located in the Andean province of Imbabura.
In 2019, former president Lenín Moreno deployed around 2,400 soldiers to the region in an attempt to curb the illegal activity. “The operation began with mortar fire, followed by gunfire and bombing runs by Supertucano aircraft,” Loffredo said in a video released by the Defense Ministry.
He added that the operation would continue on Tuesday with patrols across the area to locate possible members of “irregular armed groups that may have crossed from the Colombian border.”
The Armed Forces stated on X that the intervention focused on the “complete elimination of multiple illegal mining tunnels” in the areas known as Mina Nueva and Mina Vieja.
The operation coincided with the deployment of a military and police convoy into Imbabura, which has been the epicenter of protests against President Daniel Noboa since September 22, following his decision to scrap the diesel subsidy.
Mexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
New road and bridge explosions raise alarm amid indigenous protests in Ecuador
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
-
Central America2 days agoGuatemala arrests first escaped gang member after Barrio 18 prison break
-
International2 days agoMexico reports 64 dead, 65 missing after devastating central region floods
-
International2 days agoVenezuela calls for continued global pressure to secure ‘just peace’ for Palestine
-
International2 days agoPope Leo XIV to skip COP30 in Brazil but plans future visit, Lula confirms
-
International4 days agoPeruvian president Jerí leads prison raids to tackle organized crime
-
International4 days agoVenezuela launches ‘Independence 200’ defense plan amid U.S. naval presence
-
Central America3 days agoFraijanes II prison in Guatemala reports gradual escape of 18th Street gang inmates
-
International1 day agoSheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains
-
International3 days agoHeavy rains leave dozens dead in Hidalgo, Puebla, and Veracruz
-
International1 day agoArmed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
-
International1 day agoVenezuelan media faces fresh restrictions after reporting on opposition leader’s Nobel win
-
International5 hours agoMexican government prioritizes 191 communities after deadly floods
-
International1 day agoCaracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win
-
International6 hours agoNew road and bridge explosions raise alarm amid indigenous protests in Ecuador