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When selecting an island destination for vacation in 2025, an archipelago of volcanic islands in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of the Republic of Ecuador may be a great destination.

Named for their giant tortoises, 18 main Galápagos islands are centered on Baltra, the home to the primary commercial and private airport that welcomes about 265,000 visitors yearly.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other health agencies, the Galapagos Islands do not have any targeted health advisories in effect as of late February 2025.

Furthermore, the CDC says there are no vaccination requirements for visiting the Galapagos, as the disease risk is very low across the archipelago.

However, the CDC does recommend that all travelers be up-to-date on routine vaccines like tetanus and measles. Other vaccine options include hepatitis A, hepatitis B, and typhoid fever, especially if you plan to visit areas of Ecuador besides the Galápagos.

However, if you spend time in Ecuador, the CDC warns travelers about two viruses that spread primarily through infected midges and mosquitoes.

In 2025, both Oropouche and Dengue travel advisories include Ecuador, which extends to Galápagos.

"The Galápagos Islands are a popular choice for travelers to view wildlife up close in stunning landscapes and varied island ecologies," Jeri Beales, MSN, RN, informed Vax-Before-Tarvel News.

"From a health perspective, there is no concern for malaria or yellow fever on any of the islands, but mosquitos are known to carry dengue fever, so visitors need to prevent bites while visiting."

"And you should have a health professional look over your vaccine records before leaving to ensure you're up-to-date on CDC recommended immunizations. If you plan to combine a trip to the Galápagos with areas of mainland Ecuador, be sure to mention this to your doctor or travel clinic because there are other health risks to consider," added Beales, who leads Destination Health Clinic, a Boston-area travel health provider specializing in health education and vaccination for international travelers.

Additionally, there has been evidence of transmission of Chikungunya, Malaria, Yellow Fever, and the Zika virus in Ecuador within the last five years.

Proof of Yellow Fever vaccination is required for most travelers arriving in Ecuador from Brazil.

From a safety perspective, the U.S. Department of State ranks Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands as Level 2 destinations. While several areas in Equador are at risk, and visitors should exercise increased caution, the islands 500 miles to the west are not mentioned by the State Department.

If you travel to Ecuador, enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive digital alerts, making locating you in an emergency easier. Or visit the U.S. Embassy in Quito, Ecuador.

As the Galápagos Islands are a year-round travel destination, the local government strives to ensure everyone has a healthy and safe visit in 2025.

Over the initial weeks of 2025, the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has been reporting on an ongoing outbreak. Today, DSHS confirmed a school-aged child, an unvaccinated hospitalized patient in Lubbock, Texas, has died from measles.

As of February 26, 2025, DSHS stated eighteen additional measles patients were hospitalized throughout the outbreak.

Texas has reported 126 measles cases this year: two in Harris County, 80 in Gaines County, and 21 in Terry County, Dawson, Yokaum, Ecktor, Lynn, and San Marcus Counties.

The Dallam-Hartley Counties Hospital District in north Texas recently said several measles cases have been confirmed. 

Additionally, measles exposures have been reported adjacent to Texas universities in 2025.

"As a healthcare professional, it is with a heavy heart that I address the recent measles outbreak in Texas, which has now claimed the life of a school-age child. This is the first measles-related death in the United States since 2015 and the first measles cases in Texas since 2023," V. Yvette Cheeks MSN, RN, NPE-C, informed Vax-Before-Travel News.

"We urge parents and guardians to vaccinate their children according to the recommended immunization schedule. If you or your child have not been vaccinated, be sure to get in touch with your healthcare provider immediately to discuss your options," added Cheeks, owner of the Immunization Clinic in 
Missouri City, TX.

Although the data is delayed, the U.S. CDC has reported 93 measles cases in eight jurisdictions this year.

The CDC and DSHS strongly recommend most people speak with their healthcare provider about getting the MMR vaccine.

This CDC recommendation was recently highlighted in the Level 1 Global Measles Outbreak advisory that highlighted 57 counties reporting measles cases.

Over the past few years, the Republic of El Salvador has significantly rekindled its tourism industry. During 2024, market research data indicates about 17% more people, about 4 million, visited this Central American country's beaches and mountains.

One of the factors behind this tourism increase is safety.

In March 2022, the Government of El Salvador declared a "State of Exception", which remains effective in late February 2025.

The U.S. Department of State reissued its Level 2: Exercise Increased Caution, Travel Advisory, which stated that crime activity has dropped significantly over the last three years.

The State Department wrote on February 7, 2025, that hikers should engage local guides certified by the national or local tourist authority when in backcountry areas. They should also use caution and follow water condition warnings when swimming near El Salvador's beaches.

Additionally, the U.S. recommends enrolling in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive Alerts from the U.S. Embassy, which can help locate you in an emergency.

From a health perspective, El Salvador, like its neighboring countries, continues reporting mosquito-transmitted diseases such as chikungunya (2), dengue (411), and Zika (6) cases as of February 25, 2025.

Last year, the U.S. Embassy reported that a Red Alert warning had been issued for excessive dengue cases in 2024.

"Because of its natural beauty and improving public safety, more travelers are choosing a vacation getaway to El Salvador. While there is no risk of malaria and yellow fever, visitors do need to protect against other mosquito diseases like dengue fever, chikungunya, and Zika and use insect repellents for skin and clothing," Jeri Beales MSN, RN, BS informed Vax-Before-Travel News.

"Some travelers to El Salvador may benefit from the chikungunya vaccine, but there is no vaccine available yet in the US against dengue fever and zika."

"Other routine and travel vaccines like hepatitis A and typhoid fever are recommended by public health, but it's best to speak with your doctor or local travel clinic to review your vaccine records before leaving, added Beales, with Destination Health Travel Clinic in Massachusetts (Braintree, Natick, Longmeadow).

The U.S. CDC suggests speaking with a travel vaccine expert about vaccination options at least one month before visiting disease outbreak areas such as El Salvador.

Note: This news article was updated on Feb. 26, 2025, to include travel vaccine expert insight.

During the fourth Riyadh International Humanitarian Forum, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia reaffirmed its $500 million pledge to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI). 

This agreement will help the GPEI and its partners reach 370 million children with polio vaccines annually.

The funds were initially pledged in April 2024 at the first World Economic Forum Special Meeting held in Riyadh.

“The world is on the path to eradicating polio once and for all, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is proud to be part of this global initiative,” said H.E. Dr. Abdullah al Rabeeah in a press release on February 24, 2025.

“The Kingdom’s contribution will go toward the important work of protecting the most vulnerable children of today so that the generations of tomorrow can live free from this preventable disease.”

Since the GPEI was founded in 1988, polio cases have fallen by over 99% due to decades of leadership from GPEI partners, generous donor support, and the commitment of affected countries.

The World Health Organization recently confirmed during the 40th meeting of the IHR Emergency Committee for Polio that the spread of poliovirus remained a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.

To alert international travelers of this health risk, the U.S. CDC reissued an advisory revealing polio outbreaks and poliovirus detections in 39 countries. The CDC encourages anyone visiting polio-risk areas to be fully vaccinated in 2025.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) and the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation recently formalized a memorandum of understanding to reinforce their shared commitment to improving public health across the Americas.

Announced on February 21, 2025, the memorandum covers various areas of cooperation aligned with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals, with a key focus on eliminating cervical cancer. Each year, cervical cancer claims the lives of approximately 40,000 women in the Americas.

PAHO Director Jarbas Barbosa emphasized the significance of this collaboration for the region.

“Spain’s support in the fight against cervical cancer and other public health areas is critical for strengthening the health systems. With AECID’s support, we can make progress toward the elimination of this cancer, which disproportionately impacts women in the most vulnerable situations,” said Dr. Barbosa in a press release.

PAHO is leading efforts to eliminate cervical cancer in the Americas, aligning its actions with the World Health Organization's 90-70-90 targets.

These aim for 90% of girls fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine by age 15, 70% of women screened using a high-performance test by age 35 and 45, 90% with pre-cancer treatment, and 90% with invasive cancer managed.

In the Americas, the PAHO recommends vaccinating against human papillomavirus (HPV). However, only 48 countries have introduced an HPV vaccine, and coverage rates vary widely.

Few countries have reached 90% HPV vaccination coverage, while others remain below 10%.

The PAHO's Revolving Fund announced on February 7, 2025, that the general availability of the 9-valent HPV vaccine will be easier and more affordable for Latin American countries. Health agencies are debating HPV dosage protocols. 

The PAHO stated it is working to close these gaps, ensuring access to safe and affordable vaccines and diagnostic tools through its Regional Revolving Funds.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recently published a technical brief on encephalitis, a serious, life-threatening neurological condition characterized by brain inflammation.

On February 17, 2025, the WHO stated that different pathogens, such as herpes simplex virus (HSV), can cause encephalitis. 

Some pathogens, like the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), are spread by mosquitoes and ticks, but vaccination can prevent transmission.

As of 2025, JEV outbreaks are the leading cause of viral encephalitis in twenty-four countries in the WHO South-East Asia and Western Pacific Regions, exposing more than 3 billion people to infection risks.

For example, the WHO reported various JEV cases across Australia, including Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, Tasmania, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory.

Encephalitis affects people across all age groups, has high mortality, and often leads to significant long-term complications (sequelae), including hearing loss, seizures, limb weakness, and difficulties with vision, speech, language, memory, and communication.

Globally, in 2021, encephalitis was the fourth leading cause of neurological health loss in children aged under 5 years and the 13th across all age groups.

"Encephalitis is a growing public health challenge, and by prioritizing it within global and national health agendas and strengthening collaboration, we can reduce its impact and save lives," said Dr Tarun Dua, Head of the Brain Health Unit, WHO, in a press statement.

The WHO technical brief, which forms part of the implementation of the broader Intersectoral global action plan on epilepsy and other neurological disorders, draws attention to the lack of access to essential care, especially in low-and middle-income countries. 

While no HSV vaccines are authorized, the U.S. FDA-approved JEV vaccine, IXIARO®, is available at clinics and pharmacies nationwide. According to the U.S. CDC, vaccination is recommended before visiting JEV outbreaks.