Latest news and stories about public health in health in Azores, Portugal for expats and residents.
Health authorities in Faial suspect a highly transmissible norovirus is responsible for a gastroenteritis outbreak that has affected nearly 500 people, likely exacerbated by increased summer tourism.
Health authorities in Faial are investigating an outbreak of gastroenteritis that has affected over 400 individuals since mid-July.
Cases of vomiting and diarrhoea are higher than normal on several islands, but there is good news: transmission has been falling in Faial since 19 August, as well as in Flores and Terceira.
The Regional Health Authority confirmed that laboratory tests identified norovirus on the islands of São Miguel and Faial, a 'highly contagious' virus that 'causes acute vomiting and diarrhoea'.
Most cases present with mild clinical symptoms. There is no evidence to link the cases to the public water supply.
Health authorities have identified the presence of norovirus in recent cases of gastroenteritis reported in the Azores archipelago.
Cases of acute gastroenteritis on the largest Azorean island have confirmed norovirus. Most patients have mild symptoms, including diarrhoea and vomiting, with spontaneous recovery.
The Regional Health Authority reports that, following the epidemiological situation recently observed on the island of Faial and the increase in gastroenteritis cases in São Miguel, the presence of norovirus has been confirmed.
The clinical director says that the causative agent of this outbreak has not yet been identified.
Although it presents a low risk to the population, this disease can also affect humans
Home News Azorean beach of Mosteiros closed to swimming for the third time Azorean beach of Mosteiros closed to swimming for the third time The beach of Mosteiros, in the Azores, is temporarily closed to swimming for the third time since the beginning of the bathing season, due to "microbiologica
There are 81,000 children who consume sugary soft drinks and 49,000 who consume fast food or ultra-processed foods daily. The prevalence of obesity is recorded in the Azores.
The Azores Regional Government is launching an independent scientific investigation into decades of pollution linked to the U.S. Air Force’s use of Lajes Base on Terceira Island. According to an The post Azores begins cattle testing over health fears surrounding heavy metal pollution around Lajes Air Base appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The party recommends that the executive branch monitor scientific and epidemiological studies regarding the potential impacts of Lajes Field's activity on public health, advocating for transparency and permanent monitoring of the process.
A doctoral thesis identified heavy metals and lead in residents of Praia da Vitória. The USA threatened to suspend environmental mitigation work again, which they do not consider serious.
The US Air Force claims that the contamination near the Lajes base is not harmful to the health of the inhabitants of Terceira Island. However, the LNEC disagrees and calls on the Americans to review the decision to suspend mitigation work, according to a confidential report.
Nuno Melo went to Parliament to read a statement regarding the contamination problem on Terceira Island “supposedly” caused by the US, without giving importance to the research. The minister implied that he does not consider the University of Coimbra a “certified” public entity.
Anthropologist Félix Rodrigues received top marks with distinction and praise for his doctoral thesis, in which he detected lead—a carcinogenic element—in the skeletons of people who lived in the vicinity of Lajes Field. “It is not unequivocal, but it may result from soil contamination,” he says in an interview with Expresso.
Scientific breakthrough identifies carcinogenic elements from the soil at Lajes Field in the bodies of local residents.
MP Fabian Figueiredo has submitted questions to three ministries—Defence, Health, and Education—following the revelation of a study regarding skeletons contaminated with lead in Praia da Vitória.
The earthquakes that violently shook Venezuela are highlighted in this Friday's press, with Público stating that the quakes are pushing the country into a tragedy of uncertain proportions; Correio da Manhã highlighting the Portuguese victims of the tragedy; and Jornal de Notícias describing a 'descent into hell'. The latter also highlights that SNS24 helpline operators lose part of their salary when they go to the bathroom. The complaint is made, JN explains, anonymously by several professionals from the platform, which is considered one of the main gateways to the National Health Service (SNS). 'They accuse the company of perpetuating a service provision model based on precariousness, lack of autonomy, and growing burnout,' it reads. Expresso reports that an investigation by the University of Coimbra has detected heavy metals in humans who lived near areas polluted by the Lajes military base, reinforcing suspicions of contamination and a link to a cancer outbreak. Correio da Manhã highlights savings certificates, which will offer 2.35% interest in July, marking the fourth consecutive increase. The IMF's warning about the impact of immigration barriers on the economy is highlighted in Diário de Notícias, which, in its economy supplement, Dinheiro Vivo, features an interview with the lawyer for BES victims, who says that more than 150 of his clients have died waiting for justice.
A doctoral thesis from the University of Coimbra analysed remains in Terceira and found significantly higher levels of heavy metals near the US military base.
There are 128,900 people in the Azores who are overweight or obese. The region also has one of the highest rates of smokers and the lowest rates of daily vegetable consumption.
Regarding tobacco consumption, the data indicate that there are nearly 40,900 smokers in the region.
The Divino Espírito Santo Hospital (HDES) in Ponta Delgada, affected by a fire two years ago, maintained its services and even set a record for consultations in 2025, the Azores Health Secretary highlighted today.
Insufficient funding forced ARRISCA to suspend weekend methadone deliveries. Nurses refuse responsibility and the Order demands an urgent response.
The Health Minister highlighted the Azorean executive's commitment to differentiating technological equipment for the region's hospitals.
The goal of the measure is to reduce public drug use and promote the integration of drug addicts.
A PAN deputy considers that the experience of supervised consumption rooms “shows unequivocal gains for public health, overdose prevention, and referral to treatment.”
