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

UK braces for potential CO₂ shortage amid Middle East tensions

The government of United Kingdom is preparing contingency measures amid fears of a potential shortage of carbon dioxide (CO₂), which could impact the agri-food industry if the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, The Times reported on Thursday.

According to the newspaper, officials assessed this scenario during a recent crisis meeting aimed at evaluating the consequences of a prolonged conflict, triggered on February 28 by joint attacks from United States and Israel against Iran.

Under this scenario, CO₂ supplies—primarily a byproduct of fertilizer production using natural gas—could fall by up to 18%, affecting multiple sectors including agriculture and food production.

The gas is widely used in the slaughter of pigs and poultry, as well as in extending the shelf life of packaged foods. Breweries could also face disruptions due to reduced availability.

“I don’t want to comment on a leak, but now that the information is out there, I hope people feel reassured knowing we are working on it,” said Peter Kyle, Secretary of State for Business and Trade, in remarks to Sky News.

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While a drop in CO₂ supply is not expected to cause major shortages in supermarkets, it could limit product variety, The Times noted, citing access to internal government documents.

To mitigate the impact, authorities are considering prioritizing CO₂ supply for critical sectors such as healthcare and civil nuclear energy, where it is used in cooling systems for blood reserves, organs, vaccines, and electricity generation. The government may also request domestic producers to increase output.

Central America

El Salvador and Paraguay approve 2026–2028 cooperation program

The governments of El Salvador and Paraguay approved the 2026–2028 Cooperation Program, which includes six joint development projects, according to Salvadoran Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Adriana Mira.

Mira stated that El Salvador will act as the “main provider of cooperation,” contributing five initiatives focused on road infrastructure, tourism, and local development. She also noted that one of the projects will be led by the Paraguayan side, although no further details were disclosed.

The agreement was reached during the Second Meeting of the Joint Commission on Technical and Scientific Cooperation between both countries.

According to Paraguay’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the First Meeting of the Political Consultation and Bilateral Coordination Mechanism was also held, with the participation of Vice Minister Víctor Verdún.

In an official statement, the Paraguayan government reported that both delegations agreed to identify mechanisms to promote competitiveness, economic growth, and market access. They also committed to signing agreements related to air transport cooperation.

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International

Macron meets Machado, stresses need for democratic transition in Venezuela

Emmanuel Macron met on Monday at the Élysée Palace with Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado, where they discussed the importance of advancing a democratic transition in Venezuela.

In a message shared on social media, Macron highlighted Machado’s commitment to freedom and stressed the need to achieve a transition that is peaceful and respects the will of the Venezuelan people.

“I received María Corina Machado, Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Together, we discussed her commitment to freedom and the importance of achieving a democratic, peaceful transition in Venezuela that respects the will of its people,” he wrote.

For her part, Machado expressed her “deep gratitude” to Macron and to France for their support of democracy and freedom in Venezuela.

“We have gone through a long and painful journey, and we are now very close to freedom. Venezuela will become a nation of free and equal men and women—prosperous, safe, and united,” she said.