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02 Nov 2005 |
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Daily Edition: San José, Costa Rica, November 02, 2005
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Authorities Ask For Calm
Regarding Avian Flu Threat
The country's health authorities have asked that people remain calm and informed regarding the threat of avian influenza.
(Click for more)
Costa Ricans Oppose
Ex-Presidents' Treatment
A recent poll shows that 62% of Costa Ricans oppose the way ex-Presidents Rafael Angel Calderón and Miguel Angel Rodríguez, under investigation for alleged corruption, have been treated by the judicial system.
(Click for more)
Members of European Parliament
Make Official Visit to Costa Rica
A four-day visit by a delegation from the European Parliament, designed to foster relations between the European Union and Central America, is scheduled to end today.
(Click for more)
November 02
Tito Oses and Nito Mestre Concert
Oses and Mestre are performing tonight at 7 p.m., at El Palenque, a bar in Pérez Zeledón. They will also play Nov. 3, 8 p.m., Touch Bar, San Pedro Mall; Nov. 4, 8 p.m., Volcán Look, San Carlos; Nov. 5, 8 p.m., El Lago, Grecia. Info: 297-4687.
Marta Fonseca in Concert
Everyone is invited to enjoy some rock tonight at 10 p.m., at Jazz Café, San Pedro. Info: 253-8933.
Edited By María Gabriela Díaz
Tico Times Staff
mgdiaz@ticotimes.net
Authorities Ask For Calm
Regarding Avian Flu Threat
By María Gabriela Díaz
Tico Times Staff
mgdiaz@ticotimes.net
The country's health authorities have asked that people remain calm and informed regarding the threat of avian influenza.
At the press conference following President Abel Pacheco's Cabinet meeting yesterday, Public Health Minister Rocío Sáenz said “people should remain informed about avian flu, but they should not be alarmed.”
According to Sáenz, the country's official plan for responding to a worldwide health crisis will be ready Nov. 17.
Work on the plan, drawn up by members of the Health Ministry, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAG), the National Emergency Commission (CNE) and public hospitals, started four months ago (TT, Oct. 21).
Avian flu has so far affected a total of 15 countries worldwide, including two European nations, leaving heavy economic losses and 61 deaths as of last week, according to Carlos Jiménez, director of the school of veterinary medicine of the Universidad Nacional (UNA) in Heredia, north of San José.
Jiménez said the flu, which was recently diagnosed in people in Greece and Turkey, has left 250 million dead birds and approximately $500 million in losses worldwide so far.
Of the 118 people the virus has struck, 61 died, giving it a mortality rate of approximately 50%, Jiménez said during a press conference at UNA last week.
Jiménez explained the virus did not sprout out “yesterday,” but was detected in humans almost a decade ago, emerging in Guangdong, China in 1996.
He also drew distinctions between its causes and mortality in Asia – the hardest-hit region, where the virus first emerged – and Latin America.
According to Jiménez, in Asia, where poultry is sold live in markets, ducks and geese form an important part of the diet, while in Latin America, chicken and turkey take precedence.
The UNA director and virologist said the virus has evolved for millions of years in wild aquatic animals, which have transmitted it to other species, including humans and domesticated birds, in recent years.
Read Friday's print or online pdf edition of The Tico Times for more information on avian flu.
Costa Ricans Oppose
Ex-Presidents' Treatment
A recent poll shows that 62% of Costa Ricans oppose the way ex-Presidents Rafael Angel Calderón and Miguel Angel Rodríguez, under investigation for alleged corruption, have been treated by the judicial system.
The CID-Gallup poll, published yesterday by the daily La República, shows that 32% of Costa Ricans are in favor of their treatment, while seven percent didn't respond.
The disagreement with the former Presidents' treatment appears to stem from the fact that the two were in preventative custody for approximately one year without being formally charged by the Prosecutor's Office. Both were released from preventive detention earlier this month, but face restrictions including an order to stay in the country and sign in at court every 15 days (TT, Oct. 21).
On Oct. 14, just one day shy of a year of detention for Rodríguez (1998-2002), judicial authorities lifted his house arrest order. He had served as Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) before resigning because of the allegations against him (TT, Oct. 22, 2004).
Rodríguez had been accused of corruption by his former colleague José Antonio Lobo, who told prosecutors that Rodríguez received illegal commissions from the French telecommunications company Alcatel, which had a public contract in Costa Rica (TT, Oct. 22, 2004). Rodríguez is also accused of receiving $400,000 from the government of Taiwan and a million dollars from a Taiwanese company.
Calderón (1990-1994) regained his freedom Oct. 20 after being placed in preventive detention Oct. 21, 2004. He is under investigation for his alleged role in the redistribution of commissions from a loan from the government of Finland to the Social Security System (Caja).
The recent poll included 1,221 Costa Ricans and was carried out between Oct. 7 and 13. It has a margin of error of 2.8%.
--ACAN-EFE
Members of European Parliament
Make Official Visit to Costa Rica
A four-day visit by a delegation from the European Parliament, designed to foster relations between the European Union and Central America, is scheduled to end today.
The delegates, arriving from Spain, Poland, and Belgium, have made rounds throughout the government, visiting President Abel Pacheco, the Legislative Assembly and various ministers, as well as projects funded by the European Union.
They met with ex-President and presidential hopeful Oscar Arias (1986-1990), of the National Liberation Party, yesterday, and today plan to meet leaders of the business community, academics and artists, as well as presidential candidates Ricardo Toledo of the Social Christian Unity Party (PUSC) and Ottón Solís of the Citizen Action Party (PAC).
--ACAN-EFE
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