Central America

El Salvador remains the only malaria-free country in Central America

Foto: Minsal

June 5 |

The eradication of malaria, a mosquito-borne disease, gave El Salvador the recognition and certification by the World Health Organization as a “Malaria-free country”, becoming the only Central American nation to obtain this title.

The work developed by the Government through the Ministry of Health (Minsal) has generated the conditions for the country to remain free of cases of the disease and to prevent its reappearance.

“El Salvador is the first country in Central America with the Malaria Free Certification. With satisfaction, we can say that all this effort has allowed us to save lives”, highlighted the Minsal as one of the health achievements of the four years of President Nayib Bukele’s government.

Malaria is a potentially fatal disease caused by parasites transmitted to people through the bites of infected mosquitoes. Symptoms of the disease can include fever, vomiting and/or headache.

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“El Salvador is the third country to achieve malaria-free certification in the Region of the Americas in recent years, after Argentina in 2019 and Paraguay in 2018. Seven countries in the Region obtained the certification between the years 1962 and 1973. Globally, a total of 38 countries and territories have achieved this goal. Eighteen countries, including one territory, in the Region of the Americas are currently at risk of malaria. Paraguay, Argentina and El Salvador were certified malaria-free by WHO in 2018, 2019 and 2021, respectively,” says the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) as key data against the disease.

Similarly, the Minsal continues with different antivectorial actions to prevent other arboviruses such as dengue, zika and chikungunya through the intervention of homes with fumigation and abatization.

The search for and elimination of breeding sites, and health promotion are part of the actions that have allowed dengue to remain in the success zone of the endemic corridor, according to the epidemiological bulletin of the Minsal.

“We continue to carry out spraying campaigns, for the elimination of the mosquito that transmits dengue, zika and chikungunya. Let’s take care of ourselves, let’s avoid dengue!”, stated the Health portfolio.

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Central America

Juan Orlando Hernández thanks Donald Trump after U.S. pardon

Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández expressed his gratitude on Wednesday to U.S. President Donald Trump after being pardoned on Monday following more than three years in a New York prison, where he had been sentenced in 2024 to 45 years for drug trafficking and firearms offenses.

Hernández thanked Trump on social media platform X, stating: “President Trump, thank you for listening and responding when it was most needed. You saw the injustice committed against me and my country and corrected it. Your support for Honduras, your leadership, and your timely decision meant everything to my freedom and my nation. You have my respect and gratitude forever.”

In his message, Hernández began by saying: “THANK GOD. All glory be to Him. I am a free man. I said it when I left my home, I said it when I was unjustly convicted, and I say it today as I regain my freedom. I am innocent.”

He also expressed deep appreciation to his family and friends who “never stopped fighting and praying” for him, while blaming, as Trump had, the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden for his conviction. Hernández described his trial as a manipulated process orchestrated by the Biden-Harris administration and the deep state, claiming there was no real evidence, only accusations from criminals seeking revenge.

Hernández was extradited to the U.S. in April 2022 and sentenced in June 2024. His wife, Ana García, told EFE that Hernández had written to Trump on October 28, his 57th birthday, requesting a pardon, which Trump granted. García added that the couple has not yet decided whether Hernández will return to Honduras, where he could face investigations for alleged corruption, according to Attorney General Johel Zelaya.

Central America

Honduras Extends Voting by One Hour Amid High Turnout, CNE Announces

The National Electoral Council (CNE) announced that polling stations will remain open an extra hour due to the high voter turnout in Honduras’ general elections this Sunday.

These elections—the twelfth since the country returned to constitutional order in 1980 after nearly two decades of military governments—will now run until 6:00 p.m. local time (00:00 GMT), the CNE said in a statement.

The extension may only be applied for the additional hour established in the Electoral Law, and polling stations may close only after the last voter already in line at closing time has cast their ballot, ensuring that all those waiting are able to participate, the CNE added.

More than six million of Honduras’ ten million inhabitants were called to the polls to elect the successor to leftist President Xiomara Castro, as well as 298 municipal mayors, 128 members of the national Congress, and 20 representatives to the Central American Parliament.

The presidential race features Rixi Moncada, candidate of the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre); Nasry Asfura of the National Party, the main opposition force—publicly endorsed by U.S. President Donald Trump—and Salvador Nasralla of the Liberal Party, also running from the opposition.

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Before the extension was announced, the CNE had indicated it would release its first preliminary report around 9:00 p.m. local time (03:00 GMT) and a second one at 11:00 p.m. (05:00 GMT). Final results must be published within 30 days following the election.

Central America

Honduras’ China–Taiwan Future Hinges on Sunday’s Presidential Election

The future of Honduras’ diplomatic relations with China—or a possible reestablishment of ties with Taiwan—will hinge on the results of the presidential election taking place this Sunday, November 30. The ruling left-wing party is seeking to remain in power, while conservative parties aim to return to government.

If the ruling party’s candidate, Rixi Moncada of the Liberty and Refoundation (Libre) Party, secures victory, Honduras is expected to deepen its relationship with China. The country established formal diplomatic ties with Beijing in March 2023, cutting relations with Taiwan entirely under President Xiomara Castro.

However, the bilateral trade relationship with China has not yielded the expected benefits. Economic Development Minister Fredis Cerrato acknowledged that negotiating with Beijing has proven challenging. “We are proceeding with caution,” he said, referring to ongoing efforts to secure better conditions for Honduran exporters and business owners, who are demanding greater speed in technical agreements.

With Castro’s term ending in just two months, the long-anticipated free trade agreement with China has yet to be finalized. Despite this, Chinese companies have already secured multimillion-dollar contracts in infrastructure projects across the country, particularly in the energy sector.