Health & Safety in El Salvador

The U.S. Department of State El Salvador Travel Advisory describes the health and safety situation in different parts of El Salvador. 

Consult your physician about your health in light of your travel plans and review your vaccinations. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides information on recommended vaccinations for travel at CDC Travelers' Health Advice for El Salvador.

If you get sick, please let your CGEE trip leader know right away. This will help to pinpoint problems with food and water. They can arrange a visit to a doctor or medical clinic if necessary.

Possible Ailments

• Traveler’s Diarrhea: Change in food, water and climate can lead to an upset stomach.  If you get diarrhea, treat it with Pepto-Bismol and drink lots of water.  When you are ready to eat again, start with rice, bread, crackers, and broth (bring bouillon cubes or dry soup).  Imodium (Loperamide is the generic equivalent) is a stronger medication to be used only when absolutely necessary.  It does not cure the diarrhea but slows down the digestive system, which can lead to other problems.  Some herbal teas are thought to aid in the prevention and treatment of diarrhea such as ginger root, raspberry, comfrey, and peppermint – feel free to bring some tea bags with you.

• Hepatitis A: Studies have shown that many cases of travel-related Hepatitis A happen to travelers in developing countries with “standard” itineraries, accommodations, and food consumption behavior.

• Cholera: Cholera is active in El Salvador.  There is no satisfactory vaccine against it.  Avoiding contaminated food and water is the best way to prevent cholera:  Boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it!

• Dengue Fever: This disease is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes.  It is prevalent throughout the region.  Since there is no preventative medicine for dengue fever, take measures to avoid mosquito bites such as using DEET repellent and keeping your arms and legs covered.  The mosquitoes that carry dengue are active during the day as well as at night, so be sure to protect yourself at all times.

• Typhoid: Typhoid fever is a bacterial infection transmitted through contaminated food and/or water, or directly between people.  The CDC recommends a typhoid vaccination for those traveling to rural areas or staying in El Salvador more than six weeks.

• Zika Virus: Please review updates on the Zika Virus in El Salvador.

Additional Health, Safety, and Security Information for All Locations