International
Dengue epidemic in Latin America reaches alarming figures in the first quarter of 2024
The dengue epidemic in South America has reached alarming figures so far in 2024, with a notable increase in cases and deaths compared to the previous year, especially in Brazil, a country that has surpassed its own annual historical record of dengue infections, to date more than two million cases and 715 deaths.
The situation is especially worrying in Brasilia, with 5,774 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
Authorities estimate that the number could amount to 4.2 million by the end of the year and have begun to offer vaccination despite the shortage of doses.
In Argentina, the Ministry of Health reported 151,310 cases of dengue, 134,202 of them registered this year, with an incidence of 321 cases per 100,000 inhabitants and 106 deaths, 96 of which occurred in 2024.
In addition, nineteen of the 24 territorial divisions have reported the presence of the virus, removing only Patagonian regions due to unfavorable weather conditions for mosquitoes.
The Government of Javier Milei has opted for strategies that do not include mass vaccination, saying that there is a lack of evidence about the effectiveness of vaccines in current outbreaks.
For its part, Uruguay reached 158 cases of dengue on Monday (62 native and 96 imported) after adding 10 new cases in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Public Health said in its daily report, in which it indicated that the majority of imports are from people who traveled to Argentina and Brazil.
On the other hand, Paraguay also reports worrying figures.
Since September 2023, the beginning of the most recent outbreak, until the second week of March 2024, the country has suffered 74 deaths due to dengue, the Ministry of Public Health and Social Welfare reported.
Data from the General Directorate of Health Surveillance indicate that 35% of the deceased were over 60 years of age.
Peru is also experiencing an increase with 79,741 cases reported so far in 2024, an increase of 262% compared to the same period of the previous year.
82 deaths have been reported, a considerable jump from the 29th of the corresponding period in 2023.
The incidence of the disease is 233.77 per 100,000 inhabitants, with La Libertad being the most affected region.
In Colombia, the National Institute of Health has registered 55,340 cases, with 40.2% showing signs of alarm and 1% of serious cases. As of March 3, 94 probable deaths have been reported, with 10 confirmed cases and 69 under study.
The incidence of dengue at the end of February 2024 was 154.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants at risk, in stark contrast to the 48.8 cases per 100,000 inhabitants reported in the same period of the previous year.
As so last in 2023, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned of the increase in dengue cases in the Americas. Last year the figure was 4.5 million cases.
Dengue, whose main vector of transmission in almost the entire American continent is the Aedes aegypti mosquito, affects people of all ages, and according to the World Health Organization, behind the expansion of the epidemic is the climate phenomenon of El Niño, as evidenced by the fact that it is growing in all parts of the world, except in Europe, according to the director general of the WHO, Tedros Adhanom.
The increase in dengue cases in Latin America, according to experts, is also due to the need for more effective preventive and control actions, as well as constant epidemiological surveillance to combat the progression of the disease.
International
Police investigate deaths of Rob Reiner and wife as apparent homicide
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is investigating the deaths of Hollywood actor and filmmaker Rob Reinerand his wife as an “apparent homicide,” amid a wave of tributes to the director of classics such as When Harry Met Sally.
According to U.S. media reports on Sunday, Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner were found dead at their Los Angeles mansion with what appeared to be stab wounds.
Several political figures shared messages of condolence following the reported deaths of the director of A Few Good Menand his wife.
While the LAPD did not officially confirm the identities of the victims, it stated that homicide detectives were dispatched to the Reiner residence.
“At this time, no additional details are available and the investigation into an apparent homicide is ongoing,” the Los Angeles Police Department said in a statement posted on social media.
LAPD Deputy Chief Alan Hamilton told reporters that no arrests have been made and that no individuals are currently being questioned as suspects.
“I’m not going to confirm whether anyone is being questioned at this moment or not. We are going to try to speak with as many family members as we can,” Hamilton said.
CNN reported that a family spokesperson confirmed the deaths of Reiner and his wife.
California Governor Gavin Newsom, former U.S. President Barack Obama, and former Vice President Kamala Harrisissued statements expressing their condolences.
International
U.S. and Mexico Reach Deal to Address Water Deficit Under 1944 Treaty
The United States and Mexico have reached an agreement to comply with current water obligations affecting U.S. farmers and ranchers and for Mexico to cover its water deficit to Texas under the 1944 Water Treaty, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said in a statement.
The department уточified that the agreement applies to both the current cycle and the water deficit from the previous cycle.
On Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump accused Mexico of failing to comply with the water-sharing treaty between the two countries, which requires the United States to deliver 1.85 billion cubic meters of water from the Colorado River, while Mexico must supply 432 million cubic meters from the Rio Grande.
Mexico is behind on its commitments. According to Washington, the country has accumulated a deficit of more than one billion cubic meters of water over the past five years.
“This violation is severely harming our beautiful crops and our livestock in Texas,” Trump wrote on Monday.
The Department of Agriculture said on Friday that Mexico had agreed to supply 250 million cubic meters of water starting next week and to work toward closing the shortfall.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, quoted in the statement, said Mexico delivered more water in a single year than it had over the previous four years combined.
Trump has said that if Mexico continues to fall short of its obligations, the United States reserves the right to impose 5% tariffs on imported Mexican products.
Mexico’s Deputy Foreign Minister for North America, Roberto Velasco, said that a severe drought in 2022 and 2023prevented the country from meeting its commitments.
International
Several people shot in attack on Brown University campus
Several people were shot on Saturday in an attack on the campus of Brown University, in the northeastern United States, local police reported.
“Shelter in place and avoid the area until further notice,” the Providence Police Department urged in a post on X. Brown University is located in Providence, the capital of the state of Rhode Island.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social that he had been briefed on the situation and that the FBI was on the scene.
At 5:52 p.m. local time (11:52 p.m. GMT), Brown University said the situation was still “ongoing” and instructed students to remain sheltered until further notice.
After initially stating that the suspect had been taken into custody, Trump later posted a second message clarifying that local police had walked back that information. “The suspect has NOT been apprehended,” the U.S. president said.
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