Latest news and stories about public 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.
According to the regional director, the Azorean executive is awaiting the results of analyses conducted at the National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research laboratory.
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'.
Virus detected in rock doves and Eurasian collared doves on Graciosa, Terceira, Pico, São Miguel, Santa Maria, and Faial.
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.
A highly contagious virus that has been killing pigeons and doves in the Azores has spread further across the archipelago and is now confirmed on six of its nine islands. The post Pigeon-killing virus spreads to six Azores islands appeared first on Portugal Resident.
The Regional Government of the Azores has banned hunting and bird fairs. On several islands of the archipelago, there are pigeons and doves infected with Newcastle disease.
The clinical director says that the causative agent of this outbreak has not yet been identified.
The ban on rock pigeon hunting comes into effect on Friday for an indefinite period. “It presents a low risk, but there is a risk,” explained the Azores Secretary of Agriculture.
Although it presents a low risk to the population, this disease can also affect humans
The death of pigeons on the islands of Terceira and Graciosa has led the BE/Azores to request explanations from the Regional Government, including the number of cases, the causes under investigation, and the measures adopted.
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 Parish Council assures residents and visitors that it is “monitoring this matter very closely and as a priority”.
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.
The commission will operate “with total independence from political power.” The proposal follows a debate regarding the alleged presence of heavy metals in Praia da Vitória, where the Lajes Air Base is located.
Pedro Pinto recalled that it was the Americans who, in 2005, identified the contamination and the Azorean PS “denied the results of the polluter's report.”
The party expressed “perplexity” at the Defence Minister's “silence” regarding the possible link between soil contamination in Praia da Vitória and the presence of heavy metals in skeletons.
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.
