Travel Health Planner
General Information
Population: 10,000. Language: Spanish. Capital City: San Cristobel on Chatam Is (and the only place with year-round source of fresh water). Main centre: The island of Santa Cruz (site of the Charles Darwin Research Station).
The Galapagos Islands are a chain of 19 islands right on the equator, 966 kms east from the South American coast, administered by Ecuador. The islands have five active volcanoes and incredible animal, bird and plant life. Tourist boats take visitors from island to island and this is a major source of income.
The climate is tropical but only in places. The islands are washed by two major currents one of which carries with it the cold temperatures of the Antarctic. The temperature variations give the islands four different ocean environments within the archipelago and there is no summer or winter as such but a dry season (May to December) and a wet season (January to May). Some years there is drought.
Cholera Information
Galapagos Islands is not listed as infected with cholera at present.
Malaria Information
Risk (WHO):
(Ecuador)
Malaria risk - P. falciparum (15%), P. vivax (85%) - exists throughout the year below 1500 m, with moderate to high transmission risk in Esmeraldas, Guayas, Los Rios, Manabi, Orellana, Pichincha and Sucumbios. There is no risk in Guayaquil or Quito. P. falciparum resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine - pyrimethamine reported.
Yellow Fever Information
(Ecuador)
Yellow Fever does not occur in this country.
Recommendation (WHO):
Yellow fever vaccine recommendation: vaccination is recommended when travelling to provinces in the Amazon Basin (Orellana, Morona, Napo, Pastaza, Sucumbíos and Zamora) and to other areas in the eastern part of the Andes mountains. There is no risk of yellow fever transmission in the cities of Guayaquil and Quito or in the Galapagos Islands.
Country Requirements (WHO):
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over 1 year of age coming from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission. Nationals and residents of Ecuador are required to possess certifi cates of vaccination on their departure to an area with risk of yellow fever transmission.
