Travel Medicine
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|
Country Name |
Republic of Ecuador |
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Continent |
South America |
|
Surface area |
283,560 km2 |
|
Capital |
Quito |
|
Population |
17.6 million |
|
Language |
Spanish |
|
Currency |
U.S. Dollar (USD) |
|
Time zone |
-6hrs compared to Italy |
|
Area code for Italy |
0039 |
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Area code from Italy |
00593 |
There have been no relevant reports in the past 90 days.
Yellow fever vaccination is mandatory for all travellers over 1 year of age arriving from Brazil, Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, or travellers who have spent more than 12 hours at an airport in these countries. Vaccination is recommended for travellers over 9 months of age heading to any areas below an altitude of 2,300 metres in the Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Sucumbios, Zamora-Chinchipe and Esmeraldas regions. It is generally not recommended (check with a doctor) for travellers heading to Guayas, Los Rios, Santa Helena and Santo Domingo de los Tsachilas, and some parts of Azuay, Bolivar, Canar, Carchi, Chimborazo, Cotopaxi, El Oro, Imbabura, Loja, Pichincha and Tungurahua. Vaccination is not recommended for travellers staying at altitudes of over 2,300 meters altitude, in the cities of Quito, Guayaquil and the Galapagos.
Hepatitis A is usually transmitted by contaminated food and water, or close physical contact with an infected person, whereas Hepatitis B is transmitted by exposure to infected body fluids and blood.
Infection typically occurs through contact with the saliva of an infected animal, usually caused by bites, scratches or licks near open wounds or mucous membranes (e.g. mouth, nose, eyes). The most common vectors are dogs and bats, but cases of infection in other domestic animals have also been reported.
Caused by toxins released by the bacterium Clostridium tetani, the risk of tetanus infection is present throughout the country.
Bacterial in origin, typhoid fever is transmitted through contaminated food and drink, especially in regions with inadequate sanitary conditions.
Tuberculosis is an airborne disease of bacterial origin. Vaccination is recommended for all travellers at risk of developing severe symptoms or coming into contact with infected individuals. It is also recommended for all travellers under the age of 16, who plan to stay in the country for more than 3 months.
Malaria is transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitos and is widespread throughout the country. As a vaccine is still not available, you must take careful precautions to avoid mosquito bites and in some cases it may be necessary to take antimalarial medication, after thorough evaluation by a qualified doctor.
These diseases are spread by the bites of infected mosquitos and there is currently no vaccine. Consequently, it is important to adopt careful behavioural and preventive measures.
Diseases such as Chikungunya, Leishmaniasis, American trypanosomiasis (Chagas Disease) and West Nile virus are present in South America. As these diseases are transmitted by insect bites and there are no vaccines, it is important to adopt careful behavioural and preventive measures.
The following vaccinations are strongly recommended as these diseases can be contracted anywhere in the world. Experts advise that you protect yourself and other travellers by making sure you are up-to-date with all of the recommended vaccinations. This will allow you to travel safely, while minimising the risk of exposure to infection.
Ecuador is named after the equator line that runs through the country. Located on the western side of the South American continent, Ecuador borders Colombia to the north, Peru to the east and south, and the Pacific Ocean to the west for 2,000 km.
Three distinct zones run the length of the country. The coastal region is flat and covered in marshland, with a deep inlet on the southern stretch, the Gulf of Guayaquil. The central region is the Andean belt, which is home to two cordilleras separated by highland areas. There are numerous volcanoes (approximately 40), many of which are active and are the highest in the country (Chimborazo 6,310 m). Beyond the highlands lies the Amazon region, which is covered in dense equatorial forest and has no human settlements.
The climate is strongly influenced by the seasons. The eastern Andean region is affected by abundant rainfall all-year-round, whereas the opposite side with its highlands has much less rainfall, so much so that periods of drought have been recorded.
Altitude greatly influences temperatures, but excursions are usually only slight. Located at almost 3,000 metres above sea level, the capital has an average temperature of 14°C, while Guayaquil on the coast averages 26°C.
