Latin America in Short: Islamic State Leader Falls and Egan Bernal in Recovery

Leader of the Islamic State fall this Thursday in a US operation, says President Joe Biden. In Argentina, 20 people die from the consumption of adulterated cocaine. In Colombia, the construction of the Rionegro vaccine plant begins while the WHO affirms that the health crisis has worsened the environmental crisis. Finally, in sports, Egan Bernal continues to recover from his accident. These are the most relevant news of the week.

Islamic State leader falls

President Biden, Vice President Harris and members of the President’s national security team observe the counterterrorism operation responsible for removing from the battlefield Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi — the leader of ISIS. pic.twitter.com/uhK75WeUme

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 3, 2022

The US government confirmed Thursday that Abu Ibrahim al-Qurayshi died after an operation by the US Armed Forces in Syria. President Joe Biden confirmed that “Thanks to the skill and courage of our armed forces, we have removed al-Qurayshi from the battlefield.” The BBC assures that 13 people died in the operation, among them, 6 minors.

Adulterated cocaine leaves 20 dead in Argentina

Argentine authorities reported this week that a total of 20 people died and 74 are hospitalized for consuming adulterated cocaine. Apparently, the substance would have been mixed with poison, which would have caused the fatalities.

So far, the authorities have captured 10 people and apparently all the buyers acquired the substance in the same neighborhood, Puerta 8 in Tres de Febrero, in the province of Buenos Aires.

Work begins on the vaccine plant in Río Negro, Colombia

With the beginning of the construction of the VaxThera vaccine plant in Río Negro, Antioquia, Colombia took the first step to start the production of its own biologicals not only against COVID-19 , but also against other infections . The medicine company Sura invested 54 million dollars in this and, according to the CEO of Vax Thera, Jorge Emilio Osorio, its first stage is expected to open in 2023.

“Con VaxThera avanzamos en el propósito de consolidar una salud pública inclusiva” @Fruizgomez, Ministro de @MinSaludCol.#PlantaVaxThera @SegurosSURAcol @infopresidencia @GobAntioquia @AlcRionegro pic.twitter.com/c0JxxNTsby

— VaxThera (@vaxthera) February 2, 2022

This first stage would consist of “fill and finish”, that is, it will receive biologicals from the outside and package them for distribution. It is suggested that in the second stage biologicals against COVID-19 will be produced. Finally, it is hoped that in the third stage, research will be deepened and biologicals will be carried out against other infections such as dengue, yellow fever or Zika.

The health emergency due to COVID-19 is increasing the environmental crisis

Last Tuesday the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that the health crisis that has occurred due to COVID-19 and the response it has received from health services is producing an inordinate amount of medical waste. According to their data, and based only on the doses that have been applied under a joint initiative with the UN, the millions of doses of vaccines that have been applied have generated around 144,000 tons of additional waste “in the form of syringes, needles and safe deposit boxes.

That is, the number may be much higher, since the study does not take into account waste generated outside the initiative or generated by the public. In that order of ideas, the WHO has made a call to improve management and education systems for health personnel so that they have the best use of health equipment and products.

Egan Bernal has 20 broken bones

Colombian cyclist Egan Bernal gave an update on his state of health after the accident he suffered on January 24. Bernal is in good health and is in the process of recovering, but his return to the roads is a long way off. “Almost 20 broken bones… 11 ribs, femur, patella, T5-T6, odontoids, metacarpal, one thumb, I lowered a tooth and perforation of both lungs,” said the young man in a video he uploaded on Instagram. The Ineos Grenadiers cyclist continues to heal at the Sabana de Chía Clinic, an institution that provides daily updates on his health status.

Read also: After tremendous falls, Egan Bernal wins Tour de France