"IN A STATEMENT RELEASED TO THE PRESS, THE PORTUGUESE
GENERAL DIRECTOR OF HEALTH CONFIRMED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN EIGHT DEATHS WITH 368
HOSPITALIZED AND LABORATORY-CONFIRMED CHOLERA CASES IN CONTINENTAL PORTUGAL
SINCE THE FIRST CASE WAS DETECTED LAST APRIL 24 UNTIL JULY 6, 1974. THEREFORE
THE LATEST FIGURE OF 368 REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF 96 CASES SINCE THE EMBASSY'S
LAST REPORT IN REFERENCE TELEGRAM 2741 DATED JULY 1. OF THE 96 NEW CASES, 70
WERE RESIDENTS OF PORTO DISTRICT WHILE 18 WERE FROM LISBON DISTRICT.
IN THE ALGARVE, WHERE THE
FIRST CHOLERA CASES WERE DETECTED, THERE HAS BEEN ONLY ONE CASE HOSPITALIZED
SINCE JUNE 26. IN LISBON AND PORTO DISTRICTS, PRESENTLY THE MOST AFFLICTED
AREAS, PRACTICALLY ALL CASES COME FROM THE POOREST AREAS WHERE PEOPLE LIVE
UNDER WORST SANITARY CONDITIONS. PORTUGUESE AUTHORITIES, APPARENTLY CONCERNED
THAT TOURISM HAD FALLEN OFF, EVEN BEFORE THE CHOLERA OUTBREAK, HAVE EMPHASIZED
THAT TO DATE NO FOREIGN NOR PORTUGUESE TOURISTS HAVE DEVELOPED THE DISEASE.
ALSO THAT NO FOREIGN COUNTRY HAS REPORTED ANY CASES OF CHOLERA IMPORTED FROM
PORTUGAL. ALTHOUGH NO CASES OF CHOLERA HAVE YET BEEN DETECTED IN MADEIRA OR THE
AZORES ISLANDS, IT IS REPORTED THAT 45 CASES HAVE OCCURRED IN THE CAPE VERDE
ISLANDS BUT ONLY ON THE ISLAND OF SAL. NO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS OF ANY KIND HAVE
BEEN IMPOSED BY THE PORTUGUESE AUTHORITIES.
SCOTT
UNCLASSIFIED"
