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.

On the night of July 18, 2012 a huge wild fire developed in the west outskirts of Funchal city, more precisely in Palheiro Ferreiro. Several people were affected by this event and two Hotels have been evacuated under precautionary measures, though not a single tourist was injured during this process.

Between Thursday and Sunday several other fires erupted all over Madeira: São Gonçalo, Gaula, Assomada, Camacha, Águas Mansas, Achadas da Cruz, Porto Moniz, Santo da Serra, Ponta do Pargo, Lombada dos Marinheiros, Machico, Caniçal, Ribeira Brava, Paúl da Serra.

Current assessment is that all wildfires have been extinguished and are being monitored for possible re-ignitions. During the last four days no deadly victims have been reported.

Our update comes late, because we had to help family, friends and customers.

We strongly recommend that before starting your journey in Madeira you check which roads have been blocked. If you are a tourist ask advice from your Hotel reception.

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

Madeira is known by its levada walks which are walks on a footpaths along a water channel. These footpaths were originally built for the maintenance of the levada but today they are mostly touristic and every tourist visiting Madeira has to walk on one to get his Madeira experience complete.

There has been some fatal accidents during levada walks and most of them could have been prevented, so we here present some safety guidelines for people walking on levadas:

• Walk only on the levadas recommended by the Madeira Tourism Board - the ones which at the beginning of it are marked with PR, have a board with information about its difficulty, distance, altitude, a map of the route and have signage along the path
• Check the weather forecasts and if there is strong wind or heavy rain do not go. If the weather conditions change suddenly during your walk ponder if it is safer to continue or to turn back through the same way
• Do not go alone on this walk, take at least 1 more person with you
• Ask local people if the levada or footpath is safe before you start your walk
• Always tell someone where you are going and at what time you intend to be back
• Take your mobile phone with you and remember the Emergency number is 112
• Take appropriate shoes and clothes and never forget a warm jumper
• Do not go out of the trail, even if it 'seems' safe for you to go outside it
• If there is a built obstacle closing the path it means it is not safe so turn back through the same way and never surpass the obstacle
• Do not run any risk

Due to the recent forest fires and still due to the February floods some of the recommended footpaths and levada walks in Madeira Island are closed to public:

• PR 7 Levada do Moinho (Ribeira da Cruz - Lamaceiros)
• PR 12 Caminho/Footpath Real da Encumeada (Boca da corrida - Encumeada);
• PR 14 Levada dos Cedros (Fanal - Curral Falso);
• PR 17 Caminho/Footpath do Pináculo e Folhadal (Lombo do Mouro - Caramujo - Folhadal - Encumeada)
• PR 18 Levada do Rei (Queimadas - Ribeiro Bontto)
• PR 1 Vereda/Footpath do Areeiro (Pico do Areeiro - Achada do Teixeira)
• PR 1.l Vereda/Footpath da llha (Achada do Teixeira - Ilha)
• PR 1.2 Vereda/Footpath do Pico Ruivo (Achada do Teixeira - Pico Ruivo)
• PR 1.3 Vereda/Footpath da Encumeada (Pico Ruivo - Encumeada)
• PR 2 Vereda/Footpath do Urzal (Curral das Freiras - Boaventura)
• PR 11 Vereda/Footpath dos Balcões (Ribeiro - Balcões)
• PR 3 Vereda/Footpath do Burro (Pico do Areeiro - Ribeira das Cales)
• PR 3.1 Caminho/Footpath Real do Monte (Ribeira das Cales - Monte)
• PR 4 Levada do Barreiro (Poço da Neve - Casa do Barreiro)

The road between Poiso and Pico do Areeiro will be closed until the 10th September 2010 for cleaning works.

Though Madeira still have several levada walks and footpaths to offer to trekking lovers and these are the paths and levadas which are in good conditions:

• 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 8 Vereda da Ponta de S. Lourenço
• PR 13 Vereda do Fanal (Assobiadores - Fanal)
• PR 15 Vereda da Ribeira da Janela (Curral Falso - Ribeira da Janela)
• PR 19 Vereda do Paúl do Mar
• P A path for everyine (Queimadas - Pico das Pedras)

In Porto Santo island all paths are open and in good conditions.

Source: Madeira tourism board and Madeira Civil Defense
Updated in: 5th September 2010