The Republic of Ecuador is grappling with a surge in zoonotic diseases that are impacting both public health and the nation’s economy. Recent outbreaks of yellow fever, rabies, hantavirus, and highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1) have placed significant strain on the country’s healthcare system.
In 2025, yellow fever cases in South America have tripled compared to the previous year. Ecuador alone has reported four confirmed fatal yellow fever cases since the start of the year, with one death in Morona Santiago province and three in Zamora Chinchipe.
In response, Ecuador has prioritized surveillance, prevention, and control efforts targeting animal-borne diseases. On June 2, 2025, specialists from the Ecuador Ministry of Public Health, supported by the Pan American Health Organization and World Health Organization, announced plans to identify and focus on key zoonotic and emerging diseases. This will help guide the country’s monitoring and containment strategies.
To protect international travelers, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued disease outbreak alerts for Ecuador. The CDC recommends yellow fever vaccination for travelers aged nine months and older visiting regions below 7,550 feet east of the Andes Mountains. This includes the provinces of Morona-Santiago, Napo, Orellana, Pastaza, Sucumbíos, Tungurahua, and Zamora-Chinchipe.
As of June 3, 2025, the yellow fever vaccine (YF-Vax) is generally not advised for travel to areas above 7,550 feet. However, the vaccine remains mandatory for most travelers arriving from Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, or Uganda, even for short layovers. Travelers coming from the United States are exempt from this requirement.
Ecuador, located along South America’s Pacific coast, also governs the Galápagos Islands, situated about 600 miles west of the mainland.
Travelers can obtain the yellow fever vaccine and other recommended immunizations at clinics and pharmacies across the United States.
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