Would it be okay to take a day trip to Puyo, Ecuador without being having vaccinations against Malaria?

Question

Thanks!

Answer 1

Check these websites:

http://www.ecuador-travel-guide.org/saft...

http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw...

And also enter Ecuador+travel+health at Google.com for more websitesl!

Greetings from Germany

-----------------------------

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION:  Adequate medical and dental care can be readily obtained in the major cities of Ecuador.  In smaller communities and in the Galapagos Islands services are limited, and the quality is variable and generally below U.S. standards.  Ambulances, with or without trained emergency staff, are in critically short supply.  Acute surgical and cardiac services are not available on the Galapagos Islands.  Serious cases must be evacuated to the Ecuadorian mainland or the United States for treatment.  

Pharmacies are readily available in any city.  However, the availability of some medications is sporadic, and formulations and brand names will differ from products available in the U.S.  Narcotics and tranquilizers are extremely limited in availability.  ÃƒÂ¢Ã‚€ÂœPharmacists” sometimes prescribe and dispense medications.  These individuals often have little training and prescribe broad-spectrum antibiotics and other inappropriate medications.  Travelers should not seek their advice.  Folk healers and traditional markets offer herbal and folk remedies which should be avoided as formulations are questionable and some components may interact with other prescription medications.  

Travelers to Quito (close to 10,000 feet) and other highland areas may require some time to adjust to the altitude, which can adversely affect blood pressure, digestion and energy level.  Travelers are encouraged to consult with their personal health care providers before undertaking high-altitude travel.  In particular, travelers with heart or lung problems and persons with sickle cell trait may develop serious health complications at high altitudes.

Scuba divers in the Galapagos Islands should be aware of limited facilities for decompression.  A privately owned decompression chamber is available on Santa Cruz Island in the Galapagos Islands.  The Ecuadorian Navy operates a second decompression chamber at the San Eduardo Naval Base in Guayaquil.  Due to the high costs for these services and associated emergency transportation, divers are advised to obtain adequate medical evacuation and divers insurance.  

The cost of medical care is lower than in the U.S.  Travelers should be aware of the presence of malaria, dengue fever and yellow fever in areas of Ecuador below 4500’ elevation.  Historically there has not been dengue or malaria in the Galapagos archipelago, and yellow fever has only occurred in the Amazon Basin.  Travelers who are on an appropriate anti-malarial drug have a greatly reduced chance of contracting malaria, while vaccine can provide protection against yellow fever.  Avoiding mosquito bites is the only effective prevention for dengue and personal protective measures, such as the use of insect repellents, help to reduce the risk of contracting all of these illnesses.  Travelers who become ill with a fever or flu-like illness while traveling in a high-risk area, and for up to one year thereafter, should seek prompt medical attention.  For additional information on malaria or dengue, protection from insect bites, and anti-malarials, consult the CDC and WHO websites listed below.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the CDC’s internet site at http://www.cdc.gov/travel.  For information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the World Health Organization’s (WHO) website at http://www.who.int/en.  Further health information for travelers is available at http://www.who.int/ith.

MEDICAL INSURANCE:  The Department of State strongly urges Americans to consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.

Answer 2

I'm from Guayaquil, Ecuador. And even though nothing bad ever happened to me all of the times I went to Puyo, it is highly recommended that you get shots against Malaria or take the prescription called Malarone.

  MALARONE offers convenient once-a-day dosing that starts 2 days prior to your trip and ends a week after you return.

Here are some interesting facts:

Ecuador

Malaria risk—P. falciparum (34%), P. vivax (66%)—exists throughout the year below 1500 m, with some risk in Cotopaxi, Loja and Los Rios. Higher transmission risk is found in El Oro, Esmeraldas and Manabi. There is no risk in Guayaquil or Quito. A high proportion of P. falciparum cases in Esmeraldas Province are reportedly resistant to chloroquine.

Have fun! and don't forget to get a trip in a little "canoa" on the Amazonas river. Is the best of the jungle.

Have a great time!