SOUTHERN CONE WEATHER UPDATE: 100's Dead, Thousands Of Cattle Lost In Polar Cold Wave.

M.PRESS/    The death toll is growing from a  severe polar cold snap in the Southern Cone.
In southern Brasil and Paraguay thousands of cattle died and in Chile an agriculture emergency was declared. In Buenos Aires, dozens of regional flights were cancelled and the number of dead there from hypothermia is now 12 with another 33 dead from carbon monoxide poisoning. Bolivia has reported 18 deaths because of freezing temperatures and in southern Brasil at least 19 homeless people died of hypothermia. But Peru has the worst number of deaths, 104 so far.

Argentina's farms suffer from severe drought

A severe drought continues in Argentina.

The Economist speculates that Argentina may not produce enough wheat next year to meet domestic demand...for only the the second time since the 1870's.
More on that and the economic/political implications at:
http://www.economist.com/world/americas/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13740297

Dengue also continues to ravage northern Argentina.

And, the Southern Cone awaits the impact of a constantly mutating"swine flu."