Ecuador

MAIN HEALTH RISKS

• The whole country is malarial below 1500 meters of altitude, except in Quito and Guayaquil. The risk is higher between February and August. In Amazonia, strains are highly resistant to chloroquine (zone 3); in other areas of the country, they are not (zone 1).
• Yellow fever is present in the whole Amazonian basin.
• There is no malaria or yellow fever in the Galapagos islands.
• There are regular outbreaks ot dengue fever, including in urban areas.
• Altitude sickness may impact travelers above 1500 meters of altitude, especially those who have heart, lung or blood problems. The sites of Quito, Cotopaxi National Park, Mitad del Mundo, Cuenca, Otavalo, San Pablo Lake and Imbabura volcano are all located above 1500 meters.
• There are cases of animal rabies in the country.
• Diarrheic diseases are frequent.

FOOD SAFETY

• Gastric diseases are common among tourists who are not accustomed to local food or who do not take precautions.
• Do not drink tap water and favor bottled mineral water, without ice ; avoid eating ice cream and sherbet.
• Avoid eating raw or undercooked dishes, especially meat or fish. If possible, order hot dishes.
• Bring anti-diarrhea medication with you.
• Wash your hands carefully before each meal.

IMMUNIZATIONS AND MEDICATION

• Travellers entering the country from an endemic area are required to present a certificate of immunization against yellow fever.
Systematically:
• Yellow fever: the vaccination is available for all children at least one year old.
• Hepatitis A: the vaccination is available for children at least one year old. For persons who were born before 1945, who have spent their childhood in a developing country or who have had an icterus, it may prove useful to search previously for serous antibodies in order to avoid an unnecessary shot.
• Hepatitis B: the vaccination is available for children at least two months old.
• Diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis: get a booster shot before leaving if your last shot is more than ten years old.



Depending on the duration and conditions of the trip:
• Typhoid fever: if the stay is occurring in precarious hygiene condition. The immunization is available for children at least 2 years old.
• Rabies: recommended for long stays in isolation. The immunization should be given to children as soon as they are able to walk.
• Tuberculosis: in case of a long stay, it is recommended to have children immunized against tuberculosis as soon as they reach the age of one month, and against mumps, measles and rubella when they reach the age of nine months.
• Recommended chemoprophylaxis against malaria: chloroquine (commercial name: Nivaquine); for a stay in Amazonia, mefloquine (commercial name: Lariam) or doxycycline (commercial name: Doxypalu).

HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURES

Quito
• Clinica Pasteur, Av Eloy Alfaro 552 / 9 de Octubre: phone + 593 2 234 004
• Clinica San Gabriel, Rumipamba 1536 / Av. America: phone + 593 2 248 821
• Clinica Santa Cecilia, Ventimilia 1394: phone + 593 2 254 5602, fax + 593 2 222 8814
• Clinica Universitaria, Pampite y Diego de Robles Circulo de Cumbaya: phone + 593 2 895 723, fax + 593 2 890 070
• Hospital Metropolitano, Avdas. Mariana de Jesus / Occidental: phone + 593 2 261 520, fax + 593 2 269 247
• Hospital Voz Andres, Villaengua 267 y 10 de Agosto: phone + 593 2 245 140
• Centro Medico Quirurgico Pichincha, Ramirez Davalos / Veintimilla: phone + 593 2 562 296 / 410
• Novaclinica Santa Cecilia, Veintimilla 1394 / 10 de Agosto: phone + 593 2 545 000, fax + 593 2 228 184



Guayaquil
• Hospital Clinica Kennedy, Av San Jorge (9na / 10ma): phone + 593 2 286 963 / 289 666 / 288 888
• Clinica Alcivar, Coronel 2301 / Azuay: phone + 593 4 244 4287
• Clinica Guayaquilo, Padre Aguirre 401 / General Cordova: phone + 593 4 256 3555
• Clinica Moderna, Luis Urdaneta 1402 / Garcia Moreno: phone + 593 4 239 2427, fax + 593 4 228 2449



Cuenca
• Clinica Latinoamericana, Av. 3 Nov. / Unidad Nacional: phone + 593 7 823 496

EMERGENCY CONTACTS

• Emergencies: 911
• Police: 101
• Firemen: 102
• Ambulances (Red Cross) : 131

CLIMATE

• Most of Ecuador has an equatorial climate. Along the narrow coastal plain, temperature and humidity are high year-round.
• Most precipitations occur between December and April, and they are much more important in the north of the country than in the south.
• Days are typically warm and nights chilly, with little seasonal temperature variation.
• When to go: between June and September.