Europe

If you are visiting Portugal, you should obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before leaving the UK.  The EHIC is not a substitute for medical and travel insurance, but entitles you to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as Portuguese nationals.  It does not cover you for medical repatriation, on-going medical treatment or treatment of a non-urgent nature.  For more general information see the EHIC page of the FCO website.

If you are concerned about the A (H1N1) – Swine Flu outbreak, there is a dedicated freephone number for British nationals overseas: (+44) 207 928 1010. The Portuguese authorities are advising anyone who has flu symptoms to stay at home and contact the Ministry of Health helpline, Saúde 24, on 808 24 24 24. You can keep up-to-date with the situation in Portugal through the Portuguese Ministry of Health website: http://www.portaldasaude.pt/portal (in Portuguese). The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised its Pandemic Threat Alert Phase to Level 6. You should also monitor local media reports for any developments and advice. There is a dedicated  Swine Flu page on the FCO website.  Guidance on Pandemic Flu can be obtained on the UK Department of Health website at www.dh.gov.uk. tel: 0800 1 513 513 (from UK only).

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 34,000 adults aged 15 or over in Portugal were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.5% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS.  For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Portugal and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the  NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

Avian Influenza (Bird Flu)

There have been no cases of human avian flu infections in Portugal.

The risk to humans from Avian Influenza is believed to be very low. No human infections or deaths have been reported. But, as a precaution, you should avoid places where you may come into close contact with domestic, caged or wild birds; and ensure poultry and egg dishes are thoroughly cooked.

You should read this advice in conjunction with the FCO's Avian & Pandemic Influenza page on the FCO website, which gives more detailed advice and information.

For more general health information see Travel Health. You should also monitor local media reports for any developments and advice.