International

Ecuador registered 173 cases of dengue fever since the beginning of the year

February 3^rd |

This year alone, Ecuador has already registered 173 cases of dengue fever in the localities that make up zone 8 of the country, composed of Guayaquil, Durán and Samborondón, according to the Ministry of Public Health.

The epidemiological report of the health portfolio indicates that there are 95 patients in Guayaquil and 78 in Durán, while in Samborondón there are still no cases of this disease. Health authorities have reported a slight increase compared to the same period last year, when 162 cases were registered. In total, during 2022, there were 2,600 patients with dengue fever in these three cities.

As part of the preventive and health work, brigades of the Ministry of Health travel through neighborhoods of Guayaquil to carry out evaluations of water reservoirs in homes that usually attract dengue mosquitoes.

During the rounds, health officials also check buckets, containers and other objects where water can stagnate.

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The Ministry of Health has also enabled the reception of people who can attend the health centers and request a visit from the Ministry’s brigades to their neighborhoods.

In addition, as part of their work, they tested the water found in these reservoirs and found Aedes aegypti aquatic larvae, which are vectors of tropical diseases. This is a domestic mosquito, which lives in and near houses and breeds in any artificial or natural container containing water.

The dengue-transmitting mosquito lays its eggs in artificial containers containing water, mainly barrels and tires, which are in or around houses, schools or workplaces. Aedes aegypti eggs can withstand dry environmental conditions for more than a year. This is considered one of the most important strategies the species employs to survive and spread, according to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO).

To eliminate mosquitoes, PAHO recommends the following actions: avoid collecting water in outdoor containers (flower pots, bottles or other containers that can collect water) so that they do not become breeding sites for mosquitoes; adequately cover water tanks and reservoirs to keep mosquitoes away; avoid accumulating garbage; dispose of garbage in closed plastic bags.

Several residents of the neighborhoods of Guayaquil and Duran have testified that, due to the storm, the presence of mosquitoes increases, especially in areas with lots of vegetation such as parks, where water also accumulates.

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According to PAHO, dengue is a disease transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito and can affect people of all ages. Symptoms range from a mild fever to a disabling fever, as well as severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pain, and erythema – reddening of the skin.

The disease may progress and become severe. In this state there is respiratory distress or severe organ damage.

Dengue, according to PAHO, has a seasonal behavior. In countries of the Southern hemisphere, most cases occur during the first half of the year, while in the Northern hemisphere, cases occur mostly in the second half of the year. This pattern of behavior corresponds to the warmest and rainiest months.

PAHO data indicate that around 500 million people in the Americas are at risk of contracting dengue. Aedes aegypti, which is the mosquito vector for dengue, is widely distributed throughout the territory, with the exception of Canada and continental Chile, which are dengue-free. In the case of Uruguay, although the mosquito is present, no cases of dengue fever have been reported.

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International

Spain’s irregular migrant population rises to 840,000, study finds

The number of migrants living in Spain without legal residency status continues to rise and has reached 840,000 people, with 91% originating from the Americas, particularly Colombia, Peru and Honduras, according to a report by the Spanish think tank Funcas (Foundation of the Savings Banks).

An estimated 17.2% of the non-EU foreign population living in Spain is in an irregular administrative situation. The estimate is based on the gap between the number of foreign residents effectively living in Spain, according to the National Statistics Institute (INE), and those who hold a residence permit, benefit from international protection, or are in the process of obtaining it.

The data, as of January 1, 2025, point to a notable and sustained increase in irregular migration since 2017, when the estimated figure stood at around 107,000 people, representing 4.2% of the non-EU population residing in Spain.

By origin, migrants from the American continent stand out, totaling around 760,000 people, or 91% of all irregular migrants. Colombians account for nearly 290,000, followed by Peruvians with almost 110,000, and Hondurans with about 90,000. Migrants from Africa (50,000), Asia (15,000) and Europe (14,000) trail far behind.

The figures predate Spain’s latest immigration regulation reform, which came into force in May 2025 and introduces measures to ease access to legal status through residency ties. According to Funcas, the reform would, in principle, tend to reduce the number of migrants in an irregular situation.

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International

Historic snowstorm paralyzes Toronto after 60 centimeters of snow

Toronto, Canada’s largest city and the fourth most populous in North America, was largely paralyzed on Monday after a historic snowstorm dumped up to 60 centimeters of snow and sent temperatures plunging to -15 degrees Celsius, authorities said.

Late Sunday, as the scale of the snowfall became clear, city officials declared a climate emergency, triggering extraordinary measures including parking bans on several major streets to facilitate snow removal operations.

Toronto’s public transit authority reported that while some buses remain immobilized, subway and streetcar services are operating with relative normality, though localized disruptions may occur.

A similar situation is affecting the city’s commuter rail network, which remains operational but is experiencing significant delays on its main routes due to the severe weather conditions.

International

Venezuela frees at least 80 political prisoners, NGO says

At least 80 political prisoners were released on Sunday across Venezuela, human rights group Foro Penal reported, as the broader process of detainee releases continues at a slow pace under the interim government.

Foro Penal’s director, Alfredo Romero, wrote on social media platform X that verified releases took place nationwide and that the figure could rise as more confirmations are completed.

Attorney Gonzalo Himiob, also from Foro Penal, said the excarcelations occurred during the early hours of the day and emphasized that the number is not yet final pending further verification.

The releases are part of a series of steps announced by Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, who took power after the capture of former President Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation on Jan. 3, 2026. Rodríguez has pledged a significant number of liberations but has been criticized by opposition groups and rights organizations for the slow and nontransparent nature of the process.

So far, the Venezuelan government reports that 626 detainees have been freed since December, though independent counts by human rights groups suggest the number of actual political prisoner releases is lower and that many remain behind bars.

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Families of those still detained have maintained vigils outside prisons, hopeful for further releases even as broader concerns about political imprisonment and due process persist.