North and Central America and Caribbean

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

Hospitals in Guatemala are reluctant to give medical treatment unless they can be satisfied that you have medical insurance.  It is therefore essential that you carry evidence of your insurance cover at all times.  State-funded hospitals are on the whole under-staffed, under-funded, ill equipped, and are often unhygienic.  You should use private clinics where possible.

Malaria occurs in low-lying areas outside Guatemala City. 

Dengue fever occurs throughout the year. There has been a reported outbreak of Dengue fever in the Department of Izabal, especially in and around the towns of Puerto Barrios and Livingston. There are confirmed cases of Classic Dengue and Dengue Hemorragico. You are advised to take additional health precautions against mosquitoes and be advised that the Authorities are publically spraying a mixture of insecticide and diesel to combat the outbreak.  In 2007 there was a marked increase in the number of reported cases of dengue across the region, with an increase in the number of reported cases in the common border areas shared with El Salvador and Honduras.

In the 2008 Report on the Global AIDS Epidemic the UNAIDS/WHO Working Group estimated that around 53,000 adults aged 15 or over in Guatemala 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 precautions to avoid exposure to HIV/AIDS. For more general information on how to do this see our HIV and AIDS page.

You should seek medical advice before travelling to Guatemala 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 National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) or NHS Scotland’s Fit for Travel or call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47.

For more general health information see Travel Health, Swine Flu and the UK Department of Health website. You should monitor local media reports for any developments and advice.