“The worst thing that can happen to us is getting sick in August”, warns Graça Freitas the General Director of Health in Apliarca on Wednesday. During the presentation for the Summer Contingency Plan 2022, Freitas said that August is the worst month for accidents and diseases as tourists and locals are often far away from their usual health centers and doctors.
Graça Freitas even called out the traditional dish of Portugal – bacalhau à brás. This common dish is made from salted cod, fried potatoes, and scrambled eggs. Freitas said that the dish is one of the main causes of collective food poisoning in the summer in Portugal. Bacalhau à brás is often prepared hours before being served at restaurants and then badly warmed up, allowing for the development of salmonella, according to Freitas.
The General Director of Health also spoke of risky behaviors that are more present in the summer, as the heat leads people to relax. She warned parents to watch out for their children, particularly in pools and the ocean.
Moreover, she alerted that adolescents, particularly boys, can develop medullary lesions after diving into pools and the ocean.
She also mentioned that Portugal has many sexually transmitted diseases such as syphilis, making it “in this aspect a less developed country”.
The Summer Contingency Plan 2022 for Portugal also includes advice to hydrate and remain in climatized environments, particularly for the elderly and ill people.
Freitas also warned that despite a decreasing tendency of Covid-19 cases, the infection rates continue quite high.