International

Mexico arrests doctor and two officials accused of spreading deadly meningitis

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February 8th |

Mexican police arrested a doctor and two people implicated in the spread of a mysterious outbreak of meningitis in the northern state of Durango, which has left 35 people dead from the disease in recent months, all of them women.

Durango police early Tuesday arrested the doctor accused of using infected drugs that may have caused the disease.

Another 79 citizens have been hospitalized with symptoms of being infected, according to official data.

The doctor, who specialized in anesthesiology, was arrested and charged with illegal practices, including the reuse of medicines in the private hospitals where he worked. His full name has not been disclosed.

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Later on Tuesday, the Durango prosecutor’s office confirmed the arrest of two other people, a man and a woman, officials of the commission for protection against health risks in the northern state (Coprised) for the crimes of omission of information and inappropriate activities.

Meningitis is usually associated with a painful inflammation of the brain and spinal cord, often caused by a virus or, in some cases, by bacteria or a fungal infection.

The affected patients in Durango were likely infected with fungal meningitis while undergoing procedures at the same hospitals where the doctor worked, according to Durango state prosecutor Sonia Garza.

At a press conference in the state capital, she explained that the first procedures involving the infected patients took place last August, and that many of them had been given anesthesia for obstetric procedures.

Garza said the detainee carried out procedures without any restrictions and added that he carried his own medication for the patients, including unauthorized regulated drugs.

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The outbreak has raised concerns both in Mexico and among international organizations after the first death was confirmed last November.

Garza added that the detained doctor was the only one who performed procedures at the four hospitals where infections have been reported. She said he denied using his own medications at a hearing before prosecutors.

Reuters could not immediately seek comment from the doctor, nor locate his lawyer, but contacted his son who defended his father’s innocence.

“They made direct accusations to my dad without any proof,” he said, declining to provide his name.

The meningitis outbreak is limited to private hospitals in the state capital, also known as Durango, according to the Mexican Health Ministry.

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Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

International

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All Senate Democrats and seven Republican lawmakers voted against the bill, which requires 60 votes to advance, pushing the country closer to a partial government shutdown that would cut funding for several agencies, including the Pentagon and the Department of Health.

The rejection came as Senate leaders and the White House continue negotiations on a separate funding package for DHS that would allow reforms to the agency. Proposed measures include banning Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from wearing face coverings and requiring them to use body-worn cameras during operations.

The vote took place just hours after President Donald Trump said he was “close” to reaching an agreement with Democrats and did not believe the federal government would face another shutdown, following last year’s record stoppage.

“I don’t think the Democrats want a shutdown either, so we’ll work in a bipartisan way to avoid it. Hopefully, there will be no government shutdown. We’re working on that right now,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House.

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International

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“Because of the extreme cold (…) I personally asked Putin not to attack Kyiv or other cities and towns for a week. And he agreed. He was very pleasant,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting broadcast by the White House.

Trump acknowledged that several advisers had questioned the decision to make the call.
“A lot of people told me not to waste the call because they wouldn’t agree. And he accepted. And we’re very happy they did, because they don’t need missiles hitting their towns and cities,” the president said.

According to Trump, Ukrainian authorities reacted with surprise to the announcement but welcomed the possibility of a temporary ceasefire.
“It’s extraordinarily cold, record cold (…) They say they’ve never experienced cold like this,” he added.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later commented on the announcement, expressing hope that the agreement would be honored.

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International

Storm Kristin Kills Five in Portugal, Leaves Nearly 500,000 Without Power

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The revised death toll was confirmed to AFP by a spokesperson for the National Emergency and Civil Protection Authority (ANPEC). On Wednesday, the agency had reported four fatalities.

Meanwhile, E-Redes, the country’s electricity distribution network operator, said that around 450,000 customers were still without power, particularly in central Portugal.

Emergency services responded to approximately 1,500 incidents between midnight and 8:00 a.m. local time on Wednesday, as the storm caused widespread disruptions.

The Portuguese government described Kristin as an “extreme weather event” that inflicted significant damage across several regions of the country. At the height of the storm, as many as 850,000 households and institutions lost electricity during the early hours of Wednesday.

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Several municipalities ordered the closure of schools, many of which remained shut on Thursday due to ongoing adverse conditions.

Ricardo Costa, regional deputy commander of the Leiria Fire Brigade, said residents continue to seek assistance as rainfall persists.
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In Figueira da Foz, a coastal city in central Portugal, strong winds toppled a giant Ferris wheel, underscoring the severity of the storm.