The Directorate-General of Health (Direção-Geral da Saúde or DGS) has issued a warning for poor air quality across mainland Portugal through Thursday. The alert is due to dust clouds arriving from North Africa, with authorities advising children and the elderly to take extra precautions.
Poor air quality expected across Portugal until Thursday
Monday, 6 April 2026AI summary
Context & Explainers
The DGS (Direção-Geral da Saúde) is Portugal's central public health authority, responsible for setting health policy guidelines, managing vaccination programs, disease surveillance, and public health campaigns. It operates under the Ministry of Health.
The DGS issues clinical guidelines (normas) that health professionals across Portugal follow, manages the national vaccination schedule, coordinates responses to disease outbreaks, and publishes health statistics. It became widely known during the COVID-19 pandemic as the lead agency for public health guidance.
For residents, the DGS is the authoritative source for vaccination schedules, health alerts, and clinical guidance. Its recommendations shape how hospitals and health centers deliver care across the country.
5 sources
- Mainland Portugal to experience poor air quality until ThursdayECO ·
- Portugal to experience poor air quality until ThursdayObservador ·
- Air quality to worsen with several alerts issued: North African dust is backCNN Portugal ·
- Dust from North Africa has returned to Portugal: air quality will be poor until ThursdayCorreio da Manhã ·
- Mainland Portugal to experience poor air quality until Thursday, says DGSRTP Notícias ·
