Young Girl
Dies Hit by Lightning
A nine year old
girl, playing innocently with three other
children, was struck dead by a lighting bolt on
Wednesday. The little girl identified by her
last name Brenes Calderón died on the spot,
meanwhile the other three children are
recuperating in hospital.
The accident occurred in Los Lagos de Heredia at
2pm yesterday.
The three children in hospital are not in a life
threatening condition, having suffered minor
burns, nonetheless, they are being kept for
observation by doctors.
Country
Nearing National Emergency Over Dengue Fever
With
still the crucial months ahead in the fight
against the Dengue fever entering in the
heaviest rainy period, health authorities
already report 10.511 cases to date since
January.
According to the
Minister of Health, Dr. María del Rocío Sáenz,
that number represents double the number of
cases from that of last year. To date 28 of the
cases have been confirmed as 'Haemorrhagic',
double than of 2002.
These numbers could mean the country is nearing
a national emergency and the reason for
President Abel Pacheco, calling on Ministers and
heads of public institutions to unite their
efforts to combat the problem.
Ricardo Toledo,
Minister of the Presidency, said that "if
the population does not become more aware, the
country could fall in a national crisis."
The areas more
affected by Dengue are Santa Cruz and the
province of Puntarenas.
The Dengue
Fever has been in Costa Rica for 10 years and 6
people have died as a result, the last one death
reported in 1999.
Dengue viruses are transmitted to humans through the bites of infective female Aedes mosquitoes. Mosquitoes generally acquire the virus while feeding on the blood of an infected person.
Dengue fever is a severe, flu-like illness that affects infants, young children and adults, but seldom causes death.
There is no specific treatment for dengue fever.
And at present, the only method of controlling or preventing dengue and DHF is to combat the vector mosquitoes.
For more information on
Dengue click here.
A Favourite for
Honeymooners
Costa Rica was chosen as the best destination for a honeymoon in the category "Best Adventure" in a survey by US magazine Modern Bride.
The publication every year prints a survey about the best destinations for honeymooners, as per the opinion of international travel agencies.
Twenty-three countries took part but, according to the magazine, Costa Rica won because of its combination of forests and beaches. In the "Beaches" classification, Costa Rica was 22 among 50 destinations proposed to newly weds.
Donation for
planetarium
The
Government of Japan donated Costa Rica $427,000
destined for a planetarium, a facility destined
to improve the knowledge of Costa Ricans on
space sciences.
The University of Costa Rica will provide the
land and the building, both of which cost some
$300,000.
The planetarium is expected to be ready next
year.
|
