Ecuador - Health

Ecuador Health for Visitors

There is a public and private healthcare system in Ecuador, with a free national health system being available to any residents. Private hospitals tend to be better equipped in big towns and cities, although care is expensive. Visitors to Ecuador are required to have health insurance that covers them for the entire duration of their stay.

Vaccine-Preventable Diseases:

The Sanitary Doctor who will visit the boat when clearing into Ecuador will want to see any vaccination certificates, however no vaccinations are mandatory.

That said, make sure you are up-to-date on all routine vaccines and have been vaccinated against Covid-19.

Vaccinations against Hepatitis A and B, Rabies and Typhoid are recommended before travel.

Vaccination against yellow fever is recommended and in some ports is mandatory (although not for persons over 65 years of age). Note that in many countries the yellow fever vaccine is limited, so be sure to arrange this well in advance.

Food and Water Concerns:

• Amoebic dysentery is endemic in some parts of the country.
• There is some risk of cholera.
• Do not drink untreated water and drinking tap water is not recommended.

Mosquito-borne Diseases:

Malaria and dengue fever are health risks in all coastal and jungle provinces. Risk is present year-round with peak transmission during the rainy season, from January to September.

CDC recommends that travelers going to certain areas of Ecuador take prescription medicine to prevent malaria.

Ecuador has multiple reported cases of the Zika Virus and active virus transmission. Zika is transmitted by mosquitos in tropical and sub-tropical climates, and there is currently no cure or vaccine. This situation is evolving rapidly, so please refer to the CDC’s dedicated website if you are intending to cruise in one of the affected areas.

Prevention:

• Use a repellent containing 20%-30% DEET or 20% Picaridin on exposed skin. Re-apply according to manufacturer's directions.
• Wear neutral-coloured (beige, light grey) long-sleeved clothing.
• Pre-soak or spray outer layer clothing and gear with permethrin.
• Ensure that hatch and window screens work properly.

Other Diseases:

Cases of Oropouche virus (OROV) disease have been reported. Transmission of OROV occurs in forested areas between mosquitoes and non-human vertebrate hosts (e.g., sloths, non-human primates, domestic and wild birds, and rodents). Humans can become infected while visiting forested areas and are likely responsible for introducing the virus into urban environments.

Last updated:  September 2024