Predominance of Rotavirus G8P[8] in a City in Chile, a Country Without Rotavirus Vaccination.

Rotavirus G8P[8] infection has been common in Africa, but rare in the Americas. Among 23 rotavirus episodes observed during 18 months of surveillance of 100 families in Chile, 11 (48%) were identified as G8P[8]. Genotypes from these strains shared >99% identity with rotavirus sequences described in Asia, and may be misclassified as mixed G8/G12.

Megafires in Chile 2017: Monitoring multiscale environmental impacts of burned ecosystems.

During the summer of 2017, several megafires in South-Central Chile burned down forest plantations, native forests, shrublands and human settlements. National authorities identified the relevant effects of the wildfires on infrastructure and ecosystems. However, other indirect effects such as the risk of flooding or, increased air pollution were not assessed.