Commonground
Senior Moderator
Translated
26/09/2026
Four elderly residents of a care home in Veiros, in the municipality of Estremoz, have died since Sunday following the detection of an Influenza A outbreak. Although the patients exhibited symptoms consistent with the Influenza A virus, the infection was confirmed in only one of the cases. Nevertheless, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGR) has announced that an inquiry has been opened. Here is what is known so far.
The Central Alentejo Local Health Unit (ULSAC) reported that two of the elderly residents died at the care home between Sunday and Tuesday; however, neither case has "laboratory confirmation of Influenza A virus infection, so at this stage, it is not possible to establish a link between the deaths and the identified agent."
The same source noted that the other two deaths occurred at the Espírito Santo Hospital in Évora (HESE), but laboratory tests "confirmed Influenza A virus infection in only one of them," while the other tested negative.
According to information released by ULSAC, three residents infected with Influenza A are hospitalized at HESE, and another is under observation in the emergency department. Two other residents were admitted to the emergency department this Friday, but one has already been discharged.
Meanwhile, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGR) announced that it has opened an inquiry into the case.
"The opening of an inquiry is confirmed. So far, no formal suspects have been named," a PGR source told the Lusa news agency.
"Everyone is calm—staff and residents alike"
Ermelinda Xarepe, the administrator of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia care home in Veiros, explained to Lusa that the four residents who died—two men and two women—were "between 89 and 95 years old."
Xarepe stated that the home, which houses 38 residents, was informed of the "Influenza A outbreak" by public health authorities, who conducted "an inspection of the facilities on Thursday and confirmed that the measures implemented are correct."
"We have taken several measures, such as banning visits, and a deep cleaning and disinfection of the facilities has already been carried out," she noted.
26/09/2026
Four elderly residents of a care home in Veiros, in the municipality of Estremoz, have died since Sunday following the detection of an Influenza A outbreak. Although the patients exhibited symptoms consistent with the Influenza A virus, the infection was confirmed in only one of the cases. Nevertheless, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGR) has announced that an inquiry has been opened. Here is what is known so far.
The Central Alentejo Local Health Unit (ULSAC) reported that two of the elderly residents died at the care home between Sunday and Tuesday; however, neither case has "laboratory confirmation of Influenza A virus infection, so at this stage, it is not possible to establish a link between the deaths and the identified agent."
The same source noted that the other two deaths occurred at the Espírito Santo Hospital in Évora (HESE), but laboratory tests "confirmed Influenza A virus infection in only one of them," while the other tested negative.
According to information released by ULSAC, three residents infected with Influenza A are hospitalized at HESE, and another is under observation in the emergency department. Two other residents were admitted to the emergency department this Friday, but one has already been discharged.
Meanwhile, the Prosecutor General's Office (PGR) announced that it has opened an inquiry into the case.
"The opening of an inquiry is confirmed. So far, no formal suspects have been named," a PGR source told the Lusa news agency.
"Everyone is calm—staff and residents alike"
Ermelinda Xarepe, the administrator of the Santa Casa da Misericórdia care home in Veiros, explained to Lusa that the four residents who died—two men and two women—were "between 89 and 95 years old."
Xarepe stated that the home, which houses 38 residents, was informed of the "Influenza A outbreak" by public health authorities, who conducted "an inspection of the facilities on Thursday and confirmed that the measures implemented are correct."
"We have taken several measures, such as banning visits, and a deep cleaning and disinfection of the facilities has already been carried out," she noted.