Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
17 December 2012 12:30
Inadvertently imported tropical mosquitoes appear to be responsible for Madeira's dengue fever outbreak
Europe's first sustained outbreak of dengue fever in almost a century is losing momentum after infecting 2,000 people on Madeira, Portuguese officials have said.
Though there have been no deaths, the viral infection, which is spread by mosquitoes, has seen 118 people treated in hospital on the popular tourist island since October.
Portugal's health ministry said the week between November 26 and December 2 saw the number of new cases registered fall by 54% while everyone who'd been infected was recovering.
The outbreak emphasised how vital it is for holidaymakers to have medical travel insurance.
Portugal's health secretary Fernando Leal da Costa said it appeared Aedes aegypti mosquitoes carrying dengue had accidentally been brought to the island from a tropical country earlier this year.
Visiting Madeira, he told reporters that cases were being treated "in exemplary fashion". But he added that totally eradicating the mosquito from Madeira would be "very difficult" as it had established a habitat there.
Dengue fever can range in severity from producing mild flu-like symptoms to potentially fatal forms which develop in some 5% of people.
23 September 2016
Theresa May is being urged to give the go-ahead for flights to resume between the UK and Sharm el-Sheikh by the head of the cross-party parliamentary group on Egypt.
[more...]
22 September 2016
Budget airline Jet2.com is to open its first base in the south of England at Stansted.
21 September 2016
Smoking rates have dropped to the lowest level on record in England, new figures show, suggesting messages about the health effects of cigarettes are hitting home.
20 September 2016
Concerns have been raised over flight disruptions caused by heavy drinking among passengers.
17 September 2016
British Airways' decision to launch direct flights from London to Tehran earlier this month positions Iran as one of the hottest destinations to visit in 2017, according to experts.
16 September 2016
More than 100 flights have been cancelled as French air traffic controllers go on strike again.
15 September 2016
Two thirds of MPs would support an expansion at Heathrow.
14 September 2016
TripAdvisor is launching a new homepage, making the booking of holiday activities and tours even easier.
13 September 2016
Travellers are to be charged to use fast lanes to get through passport checks in an attempt to cut queues.
09 September 2016
People travelling to regions affected by the Zika virus outbreak should practise safe sex for at least half a year upon their return, health leaders say.
08 September 2016
British Airways is apologising to passengers for delays after an IT glitch hit check-in systems.
07 September 2016
Tiny particles that are breathed in and taken into the brain through air pollution could trigger Alzheimer's disease, research finds.