Essential Health Advice for Expats in Ecuador

If you’re thinking of heading off to look at property for sale in the emerging market of Ecuador or maybe taking a holiday in the Galapagos Islands, you need to be organising your healthcare between 4-6 weeks in advance of travel.

One of the first places you’d be advised to check out is the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website which gives valuable information to travellers about health issues, crime and what to do in the event of emergencies during your holiday or fact finding trip in Ecuador.  The information covered by the FCO is pretty clear and concise and may save a lot of hassles and heartache.

If you’re going to live in Ecuador or take a holiday there it is important to take precautions against insect bites. You are strongly advised to use mosquito netting, wear long sleeved clothing and trousers, shoes or boots rather than sandals, use DEET repellent sprays and to take anti malarial treatment if you are visiting areas outside of Quito, Guayaquil, the Galapagos Islands, the Central Highland tourist areas and any area below an altitude of 1500 metres.  Chagas disease, a tropical parasitic disease spread by biting insects, can be found in Ecuador and standard insect protection measures will help in the prevention of this disease.  This is the first essential piece of health advice for expats in Ecuador…

Next you need to know that reports of cases of dengue fever, which is a flu-like fever, are annual occurrences for those living in Ecuador.  There is currently no vaccine against it so again good insect protection measures are important.  In 2004 there were also 3 fatal cases of pneumonic plague reported in Chimborazo.  In order to minimise risks expats living in Ecuador should stay away from rodent burrows or nests as well as sick animals.  Again, the all-important insect repellent measures are the best form of protection.

Altitude is another factor to consider if you’re planning on visiting Quito, the capital city.  Set at almost 3000 metres, altitude sickness can be a problem for tourists.  The best advice for travellers to high altitude destinations is drink lots of water and take things easy for a few days.  You may also want to speak to your doctor about taking altitude sickness medication with you as healthcare in Ecuador can be expensive.

Immunisations currently recommended for travellers planning holidays in Ecuador as well as those moving to live in the country are Hepatitis A and B, typhoid for those travelling away from major hotels and restaurants, measles mumps and rubella (the MMR) and tetanus-diptheria.  Yellow fever vaccinations are recommended for those taking holidays in Ecuador’s Amazon basin provinces.  Rabies vaccinations are not necessarily required unless you’re planning on working with animals, or for expats planning to live in Ecuador.

Living in Ecuador is no different from any other new country, no matter how long your stay.  You’re likely to be a prime candidate for travellers’ tummy, so maintain good personal hygiene, drink bottled water and make sure your food is well prepared.

On a final note, if you’re planning to be a “good will ambasador” after a night out at the local disco, use protection.  There are an estimated 25,000 people living in Ecuador with AIDS.  At around 0.3% of the adult population being affected, the rates are similar to those in the UK (0.2%), but it’s definately a reminder of your holiday you don’t want to be coming back with.