North and Central America and Caribbean

• Travel Summary
• Safety and security
• Local laws and customs
• Entry requirements

• Health
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• General
 

Health

There is no in-country Swine Flu quarantine policy but screening equipment has been installed at airports to check incoming passengers.  

Medical facilities outside the capital, San Salvador, are generally basic.  State-run hospitals are on the whole under-staffed, under-funded and ill-equipped.  You should use private clinics whenever possible.  You should be aware that some hospitals in El Salvador may be reluctant to provide treatment until they are satisfied that you have medical insurance.  You should therefore carry a copy of your insurance cover at all times.  

Water is not generally safe to drink outside the better hotels in the main towns but bottled water is widely and cheaply available.

Dengue Fever is endemic to Latin America and the Caribbean and can occur throughout the year.  There have been confirmed cases of Dengue Fever this year throughout El Salvador. There is no vaccine to prevent Dengue Fever. You are advised to take additional precautions against mosquitoes.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 34,000 adults aged 15 or over in El Salvador were living with HIV; the prevalence rate was estimated at around 0.8% of the adult population. This compares to the prevalence rate in adults in the UK of around 0.2%.  You should exercise normal precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see HIV and AIDS.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to El Salvador and ensure that all appropriate vaccinations are up-to-date.  For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit the websites of the  NaTHNaC and NHS Scotland's Fit For Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health.