Central America

Rare orange nurse shark caught off Costa Rica’s coast

A nurse shark with a striking orange hue caused by a rare skin disorder was caught off the coast of Costa Rica.

The nurse shark, measuring over 2 meters long, lacked the species’ typical brown coloration. It was captured during a sport fishing trip near Tortuguero National Park at a depth of 37 meters.

Researchers believe its unusual appearance is due to xanthism or xanthochromism, a pigmentation disorder that produces excessive yellow or golden tones in an animal’s skin due to a lack of red pigmentation. According to a study from the Federal University of Rio Grande (Brazil), this condition had never before been observed in cartilaginous fish in the Caribbean—a group that includes sharks, rays, and manta rays.

The shark also displayed albinism traits, including a pair of striking white eyes.

Normally, nurse sharks have brown skin that helps them blend with the sea floor. Bright orange skin or white eyes, in the case of albinism, makes them more visible and therefore more vulnerable to predators. Unlike most sharks, which must swim continuously to breathe, nurse sharks have a special buccal pump that allows them to breathe without swimming.

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Central America

CDC reports first human case of New World Screwworm in the United States

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first human case of the New World screwworm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) in the United States. The patient, a resident of Maryland, had recently returned from a trip to El Salvador, the health agency reported on Monday.

The case was identified on August 4, 2025, through telemedicine diagnostics by the CDC and the Maryland Department of Health, though it had not been publicly disclosed until now. Authorities stated that the patient received immediate medical attention and is currently under clinical supervision.

The screwworm is a fly larva that infests open wounds in warm-blooded animals, feeding on living tissue in a screw-like pattern. Although human infestations are rare, they can be fatal if not treated promptly. Treatment involves manual removal of larvae and thorough wound disinfection.

El Salvador reported its first case of the screwworm in December 2024, marking the first appearance of the parasite in the country since May 31, 1994.

Central America

Cardinal Rodríguez criticizes political ambitions and warns against faith driven by ideologies

Honduran Cardinal Óscar Andrés Rodríguez strongly criticized on Sunday those who seek power “at any cost” for personal gain and denounced the hypocrisy of individuals who claim to be Christians but act out of selfish interests. His remarks came during the Mass held at the Minor Basilica of Suyapa in Tegucigalpa.

“Those who want to gain power at any cost, knowing it is not to do good but to serve themselves — I don’t know them — the Lord says to them: you are not Christians, no matter how many labels or titles you give yourselves,” the prelate declared.

Rodríguez also condemned those who use social media to attack others in the name of faith. “There are people giving theology lessons while insulting others — and what do they really know? Nothing but selfishness and the obsession with holding on to power at any cost. That is worthless; they do not see how those who commit evil end up, they do not see where the dictators who have oppressed the world are today,” he stated.

The cardinal warned that faith weakens when it becomes entangled with ideologies or personal interests, pointing to the ongoing crisis in Gaza as an example. “How many men and women can truly sustain their faith if they follow ideologies, economic interests, and political agendas, while thousands die of hunger every day? Just look at those painful pages of children dying of starvation in Gaza,” he stressed.

Rodríguez also criticized those who believe they can hide moral and family failings. “So many people think they are clever because they forget that stealing is forbidden by God’s commandments. They steal, thinking no one will notice; they commit adultery or betray their families, believing it will remain hidden — but everything eventually comes to light,” he warned.

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During his homily, Rodríguez urged the faithful to place their hope and salvation in Christ, not in power or money. “Salvation cannot be bought. Salvation is God’s gift to us through the cross of Christ, but this gift is also a task: we must preserve it and make it a way of life,” he emphasized.

Finally, the cardinal called on Hondurans to embrace inner transformation by overcoming “laziness, hatred, lies, resentment, and selfishness.” He highlighted that true conversion is reflected in humility, mercy, justice, truth, and a genuine commitment to peace and reconciliation.

Central America

Honduran president Castro backs TPS recipients after U.S. court ruling

Honduran President Xiomara Castro expressed her support on Thursday for Honduran immigrants protected under the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) in the United States, following a recent court ruling that allows President Donald Trump’s administration to end the program.

“Now more than ever, we reaffirm our commitment to the Honduran families under TPS. This court decision does not erase their contributions nor weaken our conviction: we will continue supporting their fight for stability, dignity, and justice,” the president said in a social media message.

Castro added that Honduran consulates in the United States will provide “free initial legal guidance, expedited appointments, and respectful, dignified attention” to all members of the TPS community.

The statement comes a day after a panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in California authorized the Trump administration to terminate TPS, which benefits more than 60,000 immigrants from Honduras, Nicaragua, and Nepal.

Under the ruling, the Department of Homeland Security’s termination orders give recipients only 60 days before they lose their legal status.