Warden Message 2009-09
April 30, 2009
Dear Warden and/or Registrant:
The U.S. Consulate General in Ecuador wishes to inform American citizens visiting or resident in Ecuador of the latest information regarding human cases of 2009-H1N1 Influenza A, formerly known as swine flu. The Ecuadorian Ministry of Health has reported no confirmed cases in Ecuador.
In response to the World Health Organization elevating the 2009-H1N1 Influenza A international threat to level five, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa declared a “State of Exceptional Circumstance” (“Estado de Excepción”) throughout Ecuador on April 29, 2009. The “State of Exceptional Circumstance” will last 60 days and includes the following Ecuadorian government actions:
• Cancellation of all charter flights between Mexico and Ecuador.
• Increased screening of persons entering Ecuador by both air and land.
• Dedication of additional government resources to mitigate the spread of 2009-H1N1
Influenza A and acquisition of additional anti-viral medications.
There are currently no health restrictions on travel to and from the United States. However, travelers arriving in Ecuador with flu-like symptoms may be asked to undergo a medical checkup at the airport. Those suspected of having 2009-H1N1 Influenza A will receive treatment at the Hospital de Infectología in Guayaquil and Hospital Eugenio Espejo in Quito.
For further information on the Government of Ecuador’s preventive measures and response to 2009-H1N1 Influenza A, please visit the Ecuadorian Ministry of Health at http://www.msp.gov.ec
For further information about 2009-H1N1 flu, including steps you can take to stay healthy, please consult the Department of State information at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_pandemic.html, the United States Centers for Disease Control website at http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu, and the World Health Organization website at http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html. For additional travel safety information, please consult the State Department’s website at www.travel.state.gov.
U.S. citizens may also call the Office of Overseas Citizens Services in the United States for the latest travel information. The Office of Overseas Citizens Services can be reached from 8:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, Monday through Friday, by calling 1-888-407-4747 from within the U.S. and Canada, or by calling (202) 501-4444 from other countries.
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Americans living or traveling in Ecuador are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov, and to obtain updated information on travel and security within Ecuador. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency. Please see the following links for local warden message information in Quito and Guayaquil, respectively, http://ecuador.usembassy.gov and http://guayaquil.usconsulate.gov.
U.S. citizens should consult the Country Specific Information for Ecuador and the latest Travel Alerts and Warnings and Worldwide Caution at the Department's web site at http://travel.state.gov. Updated information on travel and security in Ecuador may also be obtained from the Department of State by calling 1-888-407-4747 within the United States or by calling 1-202-501-4444 outside the United States.
The U.S. Embassy in Quito is located at Avigiras E12-170 y Eloy Alfaro. The telephone during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) is (011) 593 2 398 5000 X3800. Within the same city use the last seven digits. Add the city code for intercity telephone calls. See also the Embassy web site at http://ecuador.usembassy.gov. American Citizen walk-in hours are between 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday thru Thursday, excluding U.S. and Ecuadorian holidays.
The U.S. Consulate General in Guayaquil is located at the corner of Avenida 9 de Octubre and Garcia Moreno (near the Hotel Oro Verde); telephone (011-593-4) 232-3570 during business hours (8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) or 232-1152 for after-hours emergencies; fax (011-593-4) 232-0904. See the Consulate General web site at http://guayaquil.usconsulate.gov