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Foreign Office warns Brits against visiting two countries over 'sabotage and serious illness' risk

Foreign Office warns Brits against visiting two countries over 'sabotage and serious illness' risk

The Foreign Office is saying it's not worth the risk

Tom Earnshaw

Tom Earnshaw

Two fresh travel warnings have been issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) over serious threats to the wellbeing of Brits.

The alerts were issued by the FCDO today (23 April) and should be treated seriously, the department says.

Foreign Office officials regularly offer fresh advice on just how safe it is to travel abroad, with summaries available for every single country in the world.

They detail the latest warnings and insurance policies; entry requirements; safety and security; health matters; and how to get help if you're there.

Just this week the FCDO has issued stringent travel advice for those heading to Australia that travellers really should pay attention to.

Advice from the Foreign Office isn't the only travel advice we need to adhere too, either, especially in a post-Brexit world where new EU travel rules could ban you from Europe for up to three years.

Going back to the Foreign Office, advice issued this afternoon by the department warns against 'all but essential travel' to one country in particular.

It's following a 60 day state of emergency that has been declared in the country due to an ongoing energy crisis.

The Foreign Office issued the advice today. (Getty Stock Images)
The Foreign Office issued the advice today. (Getty Stock Images)

The country in question is Ecuador, with heightened 'sabotage and threat' risks leading to an increase military presence in the country.

The Foreign Office says: "A nationwide 60 day state of emergency (SOE) was declared on 19 April by President Noboa, due to the energy crisis in Ecuador. It will end on 18 June.

"There may be increased military and police presence around key public buildings, including energy infrastructures to avoid threats or sabotage."

The FCDO advises against all but essential travel to the coastal region provinces of Esmeraldas; Manabí; Santa Elena; Guayas; El Oro; Los Ríos; and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas.

Quito, the capital city of Ecuador (Getty Stock Images)
Quito, the capital city of Ecuador (Getty Stock Images)

A warning against travelling within 20 kilometres of the Ecuador - Colombia border is also in place, except for these areas in Carchi province:

  • El Ángel Ecological Reserve
  • Rumichaca border crossing
  • the town of Tulcán
  • the Pan-American Highway

Moving from South America to central, the second travel warning concerns those heading to El Salvador.

Health risks have been highlighted in the country in relation to a bacteria called Cyanobacteria Limnoraphis - something that's also been called blue-green algae.

Coatepeque Lake, El Salvador (Getty Stock Images)
Coatepeque Lake, El Salvador (Getty Stock Images)

If ingested this can cause diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting; skin, eye or throat irritation; and allergic reactions or breathing difficulties.

The bacteria has been found in Lake Coatepeque in the Santa Ana Department region.

If you're heading there, stay away from the water...

Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Images

Topics: Holiday, Politics, Travel, UK News, World News, Environment

Tom joined LADbible in 2024, specialising in SEO and trending content. He moved to the company from Reach plc where he enjoyed spells as a content editor and senior reporter for one of the country's most-read local news brands, LancsLive. When he's not in work, Tom spends his adult life as a suffering Manchester United supporter after a childhood filled with trebles and Premier League titles. You can't have it all forever, I suppose.

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@TREarnshaw