Ana Paula Martins recognises that 'this year there is, in fact, an excess of mortality', but stresses that Portugal is not an isolated case and that the same trend is being observed in other European countries.
Health Minister: assessment of mortality at the end of winter
Monday, 26 January 2026RSS
Context & Explainers
Excess mortality is the number of deaths above what would be expected based on historical averages (commonly a multi‑year baseline), and it captures deaths directly and indirectly caused by events like epidemics, heatwaves or healthcare disruptions. Portugal’s public health institute INSA (Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge) monitors excess mortality to see the broader impact of seasonal illnesses and other stresses on the health system, so a drop in flu cases does not automatically mean overall mortality has returned to normal. Those following public‑health trends should note excess‑mortality figures because they show the pandemic and other factors’ continuing effect on population health.
