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Ecuador detects three cases of new Covid-19 variant

Ecuador detects three cases of new Covid-19 variant
Photo: EFE

August 30|

The Ministry of Public Health (MSP) of Ecuador confirmed the existence in the country of the EG-5 variant of SARS-CoV-2, the same that has led to the rebound of the disease in China and other countries such as Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, the United States and the Dominican Republic.

The National Undersecretary of Public Health Surveillance, attached to the MSP, Francisco Perez, reported that the three cases identified were located in the Andean province of Pichincha, whose capital is Quito, which leads to presume that the variant transits through other regions of the nation.

The official remarked that the first case was detected three weeks ago and is currently at home with no symptoms and no possibility of having infected other people. The other two people identified with the variant do not pave the way for knowing the existence of new cases.

“We have not had the effects that the circulation of this variant has had in other countries,” said the health official, who took the opportunity to recommend to the population to increase basic health care, especially those with comorbidities such as diabetes, hypertension, respiratory problems and others.

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He suggested the use of masks and respecting vaccination schedules to avoid contagion and severe complications, such as the “seasonal vaccine” available in the national health system for people at risk, but revealed that a regular dose is being analyzed to be incorporated to the general inoculation system.

EG.5 is a subvariant of the Omicron lineage of Covid-19 and has already generated concern because it circulates freely in several countries. According to the MOH, XBB.1.5 is the dominant Covid-19 variant in Ecuador, although others such as XBB.1.16.1 have been detected in the provinces of Pichincha, Tungurahua and Pastaza.

Other variants that the MSP keeps under monitoring are XBB.1.9.2 (Cotopaxi and Pichincha), XBB.1.9.2 (Chimborazo and Pichincha) and XBB.2.3.3 (Pichincha). However, the entity assures that the contagion is scarce and practically no deaths have been registered due to this disease in the last weeks, said Perez.

In another sense, the undersecretary warned about the rebound of dengue cases and stated that, so far this year, 16 deaths have been confirmed due to this disease, a figure that equals the total number of deaths of the previous year.

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Paraguay summons Brazilian ambassador over Itaipú espionage scandal

Paraguay summoned the Brazilian ambassador in Asunción on Tuesday to demand “explanations” and called its own representative in Brasília for consultations following Brazil’s acknowledgment of an espionage operation. The Brazilian government, led by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, attributed the operation to the previous administration.

The surveillance effort aimed to uncover Paraguay’s position in now-suspended negotiations with Brazil regarding the pricing of electricity from the binational Itaipú hydroelectric plant, according to reports in the Brazilian press.

The Brazilian government “categorically denied any involvement in the intelligence operation,” stating in a Foreign Ministry communiqué on Monday that the espionage was carried out under former President Jair Bolsonaro’s administration (2019-2023).

“The operation was authorized by the previous government in June 2022 and was annulled by the interim director of the (state intelligence agency) ABIN on March 27, 2023, as soon as the current administration became aware of it,” Brazil’s government asserted.

Paraguay’s Foreign Minister Rubén Ramírez announced that Brazilian Ambassador José Antonio Marcondes de Carvalho was summoned “to provide detailed explanations” regarding the operation. Additionally, Paraguay recalled its diplomatic representative in Brasília “to report on aspects related to the intelligence activity conducted by Brazil regarding Paraguay’s government affairs.”

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Elon Musk to step down as government advisor, per Trump insiders

President Donald Trump has informed his inner circle that Elon Musk will be stepping down from his role as a government advisor, according to a report by Politico today.

Citing three individuals close to Trump, Politico states that the president is pleased with Musk’s leadership at the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), where he has implemented significant budget cuts. However, both have agreed that it is time for Musk to return to his businesses and support Trump from a different position outside the government.

A senior administration official told Politico that Musk will likely maintain an informal advisory role and continue to be an occasional visitor to the White House. Another source warned that anyone thinking Musk will completely disappear from Trump’s circle is “deluding themselves.”

According to the sources, this transition is expected to coincide with the end of Musk’s tenure as a “special government employee,” a temporary status that exempts him from certain ethics and conflict-of-interest regulations. This 130-day period is set to expire in late May or early June.

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Milei vows to make Argentina so strong that Falkland Islanders “choose” to join

Argentine President Javier Milei reaffirmed his country’s claim over the Falkland Islands (known as the Islas Malvinas in Argentina) and praised the role of the nation’s armed forces during a ceremony marking the “Veterans and Fallen Soldiers of the Malvinas War Day,” commemorating 43 years since the 1982 conflict with the United Kingdom.

Argentina continues to assert sovereignty over the islands, arguing that Britain unlawfully seized them in 1833.

“If sovereignty over the Malvinas is the issue, we have always made it clear that the most important vote is the one cast with one’s feet. We hope that one day, the Malvinas residents will choose to vote with their feet and join us,” Milei stated.

“That is why we aim to become a global power—so much so that they would prefer to be Argentine, making deterrence or persuasion unnecessary. This is why we have embarked on a path of liberation, working to make Argentina the freest country in the world and once again the nation with the highest GDP per capita on the planet,” he added.

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