Bolivia

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil: Dengue Fever Epidemic Plagues Three Countries

Date: April 15th, 2009 |

Argentina’s health minister acknowledged that the country is in the middle of a dengue fever epidemic after denying that the outbreak was so severe. Nearly 8,000 people are officially infected, with the northern province of Chaco having almost half the reported cases. Officials said Argentina’s epidemic is linked to the epidemic in neighboring Bolivia, where [read more]

Bolivia: Dengue Fever Cases Prompt Health Emergency in Four Provinces

Date: January 29th, 2009 |

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Three deaths from dengue hemorrhagic fever prompted officials to declare a health emergency in the provinces of Santa Cruz, Beni, Pando and Cochabamba. These provinces are all in the lowlands where hot, wet weather is ideal for mosquito breeding. Authorities have mobilized 20,000 military personnel for a widespread insecticide campaign to combat the disease, which [read more]

Bolivia: Referendum Agreement May Calm Protests

Date: October 22nd, 2008 |

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Congress approved holding a referendum on a new constitution in January, a move that should end two years of political wrangling and months of protests that occasionally became violent, especially in the lowland eastern provinces where opposition to the proposed constitution has been fierce. President Evo Morales has been pushing for the constitutional reform as [read more]

Bolivia: “Highway of Death” Claims U.S. Mountain Biker

Date: April 23rd, 2008 |

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The North Yungas Road leading from La Paz to Coroico in the Amazon basin has been called “the most dangerous road in the world” and the “highway of death” because of its precipitous drop from the highlands to the Amazon jungle hugging cliffs for most of its 40-mile descent. But for all its danger, which [read more]

Bolivia: Unrest Prompts Call for Referendum

Date: December 6th, 2007 |

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Political strife between President Evo Morales’ ruling party and the opposition threatens to tear the country apart as a constitutional assembly tries to draft a new constitution by its deadline of Dec. 14. Violent demonstrations have occurred in Sucre and the Amazonian town of Cobija. Tensions are high and more violence is possible, including blocking [read more]

Brazil and Bolivia: Carnival Celebrations Bring Out Fun, Potential Injury

Date: February 19th, 2009 |

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Carnival will bring congestion and the “best party on earth” to Rio de Janeiro Feb. 21-24, but officials expect far fewer foreigners to come this year because of the economic downturn. Those who come will be welcomed, but they also need to take precautions to avoid being pickpocketed. Petty crime increases significantly during carnival. In [read more]

Bolivia: Ban on Old Cars Sparks Protests

Date: January 8th, 2009 |

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Violent protests are not a rarity in Bolivia, where political passions regularly find their way into free expression, but the source of a recent protest that blocked a key highway outside La Paz was unusual: anger at a ban on imports of old cars. Used-car dealers and mechanics’ unions rallied against a new law that [read more]

Bolivia: “Highway of Death” Claims More Victims

Date: May 1st, 2008 |

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Bolivia’s “Highway of Death” claimed its second tourist in a week April 24 when an SUV carrying 12 passengers hit a group of cyclists and then careered off the road and tumbled 100 feet down an embankment. A British cyclist and eight passengers in the vehicle were killed. The cyclists, who had just started their [read more]

Bolivia: Yellow Fever Vaccinations Required

Date: March 20th, 2008 |

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The U.S. Embassy in La Paz reported March 14 that airlines flying to Bolivia have recently been refusing to accept passengers who do not have valid yellow fever vaccinations. Because of recent heavy rains the government has decreed that arriving travelers must be vaccinated for the disease. The Embassy said it is seeking further clarification [read more]

Bolivia: Santa Cruz Airport Disruptions

Date: October 25th, 2007 |

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Alleged corruption at Bolivia’s busiest international airport in Santa Cruz prompted an airport closure, an army takeover to reopen it, and a popular uprising to force the army to pull back Oct. 19. Several aircraft, including an American Airlines jet, were detained on the runway until troops intervened. Airport authorities had been demanding $2,000 cash [read more]