Quito, Ecuador´s Capital, Is A Safe Place to Visit

The tourism authority of Quito made a statement about tourism safety in Quito recently. The main contents are as follows:

As the official entity responsible for tourism in Quito, we would like to inform the international community that our city, and its surrounding areas, are NOT habitats of the “Aedes aegyoti” mosquito, carrier of the Zika virus, due to being located in the Andes above 2850 MASL.

According to Ecuadorian epidemiologist Marcelo Aguilar, locations higher than 800 MASL do NOT register the presence of this mosquito. With this official information, Quito joins statements from other destinations such as Bogotá and Mexico, which have made known that conditions in high altitude areas are NOT suitable for the “Aedes aegypti” mosquito to live in.

As such, Quito, gateway to Ecuador, and one of the highest capital cities in the world, is a safe destination for tourists and does not represent a risk to their health.

Health and Tourism authorities in Ecuador are working together to inform residents, tourists, and the tourism sector, of the precautions that should be taken. The tourism industry is working closely with health authorities to follow the World Health Organization (WHO) preventions and recommendations.