Cause of death confirmed for Amazon children; Banco Guayaquil announces big Cuenca project; Landslides threaten 21 homes; Last Correista appeal is rejected

The Ministry of Health is sending additional medical teams to Taisha, in Morona Santiago Province, where eight children have died and another 52 have contracted leptospira. The disease was identified Saturday as the cause of the outbreak that began in December.

Health Minister Edgar Lama said Monday he is certain of the diagnosis following several media claims that some of the victims, all children, suffered from yellow fever, “Our researchers have spent several weeks, carefully analyzing test results and we are comfortable with our assessment,” he said.

A medial worker examines a child in Morona Santiago Province.

Under the new protocol announced last week, Lama said, milder cases of the disease will be treated in health clinics in the Morona Santiago area, while severe cases will be transferred to two hospitals in Cuenca. “Now that we have identified the cause, the treatment regime can focus on the best treatments,” he said.

In its Saturday statement, the ministry said the cases leptospira are most likely the result poor sanitation and pools of standing water that cultivate the bacteria. “The disease is contracted through contact with animals, both domestic and wild, and contaminated earth and water,” it said. “The urine of the animals is the primary source the bacteria.”

Those infected, the statement continues, suffer high fever, vomiting and stomach cramps and, in the most severe cases, organ failure.

In addition to treating infected children, the health teams dispatched to Taisha will train community leaders in methods to eliminate the reduce sources of leptospira.

Banco Guayaquil announces major Cuenca project
Banco Guayaquil announced April 29 plans for a large mixed-use real estate complex on Av. Gran Colombia. In addition to a branch of the bank, the project will include a business tower, shopping mall, 75-room 4-star hotel, and 80 luxury apartments.

The project, which will be constructed just west of the Gran Colombia and Unidad Nacional intersection, is being described by the bank as the largest mixed-use project in Cuenca history.

Banco Guayaquil President Guillermo Lasso Alcívar said the project recognizes Cuenca’s “tremendous” growth potential to become one of South America’s “leading” cities. “Recently recognized as the city with the best quality of life in South America, Cuenca is the perfect setting for a development of this magnitude,” he said. “Banco Guayaquil wants to be part of Cuenca’s growth and success.”

Landslides threaten 21 homes
The Cuenca Risk Management office has ordered the evacuation of 21 houses as result of recent landslides. The houses are located in the Paccha, Santa Ana, Sayausí, El Valle, Ricaurte parishes.

Risk Management Director Lorena Pesántez said several of the homes are in danger of “imminent collapse” while others are located on land that has experienced movement due to rain. Depending on an engineering assessment currently underway, Pesántez said some residents of the affected homes may be able to return, but did not say when.

Four houses have been destroyed by landslides since mid-May, Pesántez said.

Last Correista election challenge denied
The Contentious Electoral Tribunal has rejected the Revolución Ciudadana’s appeal of the National Electoral Council’s decision to accept the results of the April 13 election in which President Daniel Noboa defeated RC’s Luisa González.

The decision effectively ends the challenge of the election results.

The TCE said it found no reason to question the election’s council’s review of election ballots and noted that three teams of international election observers had declared the election “fair and transparent.”