Illegal Mining Health Fallout: France says illegal gold mining along Suriname’s border with French Guiana is a “ticking time bomb,” citing extreme mercury (8,469x WHO limit) and arsenic (4,623x) levels that expose Indigenous communities daily through water and food—while noting Suriname never ratified a 2021 border accord. PFAS in Pregnancy: A Suriname study finds “forever chemicals” (PFAS) in pregnant women vary sharply by landscape, with higher blood concentrations in remote rainforest communities—pointing to local water and food pathways. Neurological Disorders Surge: A PAHO-led Lancet study estimates nearly two in five people in the Americas live with neurological conditions; Guyana and Suriname are among the hardest hit, with more survivors needing long-term care as death rates fall. Chikungunya Travel Alert: CDC warns of chikungunya outbreaks in Costa Rica (including Guanacaste/Playa Langosta), urging vaccination where available and strict mosquito protection due to potentially long-lasting joint pain. Regional Health Risk: CDC also flags active chikungunya in Suriname and other countries, with elevated exposure risk across parts of the Americas and beyond. Forensic Gold Crackdown (Regional): Brazil expands “gold fingerprinting” to trace seized gold back to protected areas, aiming to curb illegal mining and mercury contamination. Community & Culture: Ahanta Heritage Month culminates in unveiling a statue honoring executed Ahantahene Nana Badu Bonsu II—“He Did Not Bow”—highlighting repatriation calls and historical memory.