It is our responsibility to prevent those who visit Madeira that there are confirmed cases of dengue fever in the island. Since 2005 that Funchal has the mosquito Aedes aegypti, a vector for transmitting several tropical deseases, such as dengue and yellow fevers. Until end of September 2012 there were no cases of dengue fever in Madeira so the mosquitos were here but did not carry any desease but now, there has been a few people with this desease and so the Aedes aegypti mosquitos are prone to transmit it.

Dengue fever is a common desease in tropical and subtropical regions all over the world and is now endemic to more than 110 countries. There are four strains of the virus (DENV-1, DENV-2, DENV-3 and DENV-4) and in Madeira we only get the DENV-1 which is the least severe one.

The Aedes aegypti mosquitos are easily identified by its blackish body with white markings on legs and part of the body. They normally fly low, like indoor and shady areas and bite during day time.

The characteristic symptoms of dengue are sudden-onset fever, headache (typically located behind the eyes), muscle and joint pains and rash. Children often experience vomiting and diarrhea though generally have less severe symptoms than adults. During your stay or within 14 days after returning home, if you feel any of the dengue symptoms, do not take acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) and other anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen), you may take paracetamol to control the fever and pains until you get to the doctor and you should tell the doctor it might be dengue fever.

In Madeira the Aedes aegypti mosquitos are only found, so far, in Santa Cruz, Funchal and Câmara de Lobos and on the lower altitudes of these councils.

Personal protective measures can be taken to reduce the risk of being bitten by an infected mosquito:

• Use insect repellent that contain 20% to 30% concentration of DEET (N, N-diethylmetatoluamide) on exposed skin to repel mosquitos. For children under 10 years old the maximum concentration of DEET is 10%
• Wear long-sleeved shirts which, long trousers and hats to cover exposed skin
• Stay in air-conditioned or well-screened housing
• When using sunscreen, apply sunscreen first and then repellent. Repellent should be washed off at the end of the day before going to bed.

This article was written for Madeira tourists to be aware of this problem but not to push them away from our beautiful island.

Sighting of Monk Seal at Caniçal, Madeira on a Bird, Whale and Dolphin watching trip of Wind Birds

For those who like to walk or trekking, here is the list of footpaths and levada walks recommended by the Madeira Government, officially updated on the 30th of April 2012. These pedestrian paths are considered safe and in good condition for Madeira and Porto Santo visitants to walk and enjoy the islands' nature and landscapes.

The list below has the portuguese name of the paths. This way you should be aware of some portuguese words:
"Vereda" means footpath or trail
"Caminho" means an old road or pedestrian passage
"Levada" is a path on the side of a water channel, originally built for its maintenance but now mainly for tourist walks, which normally means that the path is flat and does not vary much in altitude.

Recommended pedestrian paths/levada walks in the Island of Madeira

• PR 1 - Vereda do Areeiro (Pico do Areeiro - Pico Ruivo)
• PR 1.1 - Vereda da Ilha (Pico Ruivo - Ilha)
• PR 1.2 - Vereda do Pico Ruivo (Achada do Teixeira - Pico Ruivo)
• PR 1.3 - Vereda da Encumeada (Pico Ruivo - Encumeada)
• PR 2 - Vereda do Urzal (Curral das Freiras - Boaventura)
• PR 3 - Vereda do Burro (Pico do Areeiro - Ribeira das Cales)
• PR 3.1 - Caminho Real do Monte (Ribeira das Cales - Monte)
• PR 4 - Levada do Barreiro (Poço da Neve - Casa do Barreiro)
• PR 5 - Vereda das Funduras (Portela - Maroços)
• PR 6 - Levada das 25 Fontes (Rabaçal - 25 Fontes)
• PR 6.1 - Levada do Risco (Rabaçal - Risco)
• PR 7 - Levada do Moinho (Ribeira da Cruz - Lamaceiros)
• PR 8 - Vereda da Ponta de S. Lourenço (Baía d'Abra - Cais do Sardinha)
• PR 9 - Levada do Caldeirão Ve r d e (Queimadas - Caldeirão Verde - Caldeirão do Inferno)
• PR 10 - Levada do Furado (Ribeiro Frio - Portela)
• PR 11 - Vereda dos Balcões (Ribeiro Frio - Balcões)
• PR 12 - Caminho Real da Encumeada (Boca da Corrida - Encumeada)
• PR 13 - Vereda do Fanal (Assobiadores - Paul da Serra - Fanal)
• PR 14 - Levada dos Cedros (Fanal - Curral Falso)
• PR 15 - Vereda da Ribeira da Janela (Curral Falso - Ribeira da Janela)
• PR 16 - Levada Fajã do Rodrigues (Fajã da Ama - Ribeira do Inferno)
• PR 17 - Caminho do Pináculo e Folhadal (Lombo do Mouro - Caramujo - Folhadal - Encumeada)
• PR 18 - Levada do Rei (Quebradas - Ribeiro Bonito)
• PR 19 - Caminho Real do Paul do Mar (Prazeres - Paul do Mar)
• PR 20 - Vereda do Jardim do Mar (Prazeres - Jardim do Mar)
• PR 21 - Caminho do Norte (Encumeada - Ribeira Grande)
• PR 22 - Vereda do Chão dos Louros
• PR 23 - Levada da Azenha (Azenha - Caminho Velho do Castelo).

Recommended pedestrian paths/levada walks in the Island of Porto Santo

• PR1 - Vereda do Pico Branco e Terra Chã (ER111 - Terra Chã)
• PR2 - Vereda do Pico do Castelo (Moledo - Pico do Castelo)

Source: JORAM - Jornal Oficial da Região Autónoma da Madeira, Série II, nº 74 de 30 de Abril 2012

590 meters above the sea, on the top of one of the highest sea cliffs in Europe and one of the most popular view points in Madeira, lies a private condominium of apartments where the new ApartHotel Cabo Girão.

From studios to 2 bedroom apartments this sister hotel of Quintinha São João is the perfect place for one to spend family holidays. All the apartments have sea view, furnished balcony and fully equipped kitchens. The hotel complex offers a wide variety of facilities for children and adults, such as indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, green bowling, crazy golf, pool table, tennis table, SPA with treatment rooms, sauna, jacuzzi, turkish bath, gymnasium and workout beds. It also has a restaurant, a bar, a snack bar and a mini-market where one can buy the basics to cook a meal at the apartment or use the barbecue facilities in the site.

Only 29 km away from Madeira airport and 12 km from Funchal city center, at ApartHotel Cabo Girão is a wise choice for family holidays or for a stay out of city centers but yet not so far as well! Cabo Girão is a good starting point for sightseeing around Madeira on a rented car or even walking.

The Madeira architecture company "MSB Arquitectos" were invited to present their work on an Indian magazine - Formness. This publication has selected a group of international companies in the architecture sector to make part of its catalog.

Miguel Malaguerra, Susana Jesus and Bruno Martins are the proud owners of MSB Arquitectos who saw their work and profile featured in the growing market of India.