Ecuador is currently grappling with a critical public health situation directly attributable to widespread and severe flooding, which has dramatically elevated the risk of both tropical and gastrointestinal diseases.
The Ministry of Health on March 23 has officially reported 146 cases of leptospirosis across the nation in 2026, tragically accompanied by four fatalities. Additionally, more than 850 infections have been registered specifically in the border region with Peru, highlighting the broad geographic impact of the crisis.
In the populous city of Guayaquil, a particularly alarming 400% increase in dengue cases has been recorded, with 127 infections identified up to March 17, a figure five times higher than that reported during the identical period in the preceding year.
The situation remains especially grave in the canton of Babahoyo, located within the Los Ríos province. There, the prolonged accumulation of waste over three weeks of continuous flooding has led to an exponential proliferation of rodents and flies, creating highly unsanitary conditions. Consequently, local health centers have become overwhelmed, struggling to manage a surge of patients presenting with diverse skin affections and other acute infectious symptoms. Text reads: “Medical brigades of the Ministry of Public Health are deployed in hard-to-reach communities in Taisha. Comprehensive teams perform medical care, drug delivery, epidemiological control and patient registration.”
Furthermore, the critical scarcity of potable water in these heavily affected zones has directly triggered a sharp increase in gastrointestinal pathologies among the most vulnerable segments of the population, exacerbating an already dire public health emergency.
According to the National Secretariat for Risk Management, the relentless weather system since January has resulted in 14 fatalities and directly impacted over 71,000 individuals across the country. The provinces of Guayas, Manabí, Esmeraldas, and El Oro have experienced particularly severe consequences, enduring more than 2,000 events directly associated with the heavy rainfall. This extensive damage has critically compromised essential infrastructure and severely deteriorated public health conditions throughout these regions, creating long-term challenges for recovery and resilience.
Meteorological authorities have issued a new, urgent warning forecasting the continuation of intense rainfall until March 25. This persistent adverse weather is anticipated to further exacerbate the existing emergency across a substantial portion of the national territory, potentially leading to more widespread flooding, additional displacements, and increased health risks. In response to this escalating situation, medical personnel are rigorously recommending that citizens strictly avoid any contact with stagnant water and immediately seek attention at health centers upon the manifestation of the first symptoms, explicitly advising against any form of self-medication.
Currently, the coastal provinces of Esmeraldas, Los Ríos, and Guayas remain under a severe “red alert” due to the overwhelming magnitude of the flooding they have experienced. Technical reports indicate that the Guayas province is the most severely impacted, with almost 20,000 individuals directly affected by the rising waters. Nationwide, the latest official tally records 82 homes that have completely collapsed and 19 bridges that have been rendered entirely destroyed, further isolating communities and impeding vital relief efforts. This destruction of critical infrastructure complicates access to aid and healthcare for thousands.