The Most Important Travel Advisories Announced in April

After a quiet month of March that saw just three travel advisory updates issued, the U.S. State Department was busy assessing threats around the globe in April.

Officials issued updated advisories for destinations from Asia to South America, including some popular overseas locales.

In case you missed it, here are the most important travel advisory updates from the past month.

Visitors to the Central African country of Equatorial Guinea should exercise increased caution due to crime and health concerns.

"Medical services in Equatorial Guinea fall well below U.S. standards and there are no adequate trauma services in the country. Ambulance services are not present throughout the country," the State Department noted in an April 4 update. "Even relatively minor health problems may necessitate a medical evacuation at the traveler’s expense. Medical evacuation insurance valid for travel to Equatorial Guinea is strongly recommended."

The State Department updated its Level 2 travel advisory for the West African country of Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) on April 8. Travelers should exercise increased caution due to crime, terrorism, civil unrest, health and piracy and avoid travel to the northern border region due to terrorism.

Travelers to Armenia should exercise increased caution due to the threat of armed conflict.

Visitors should not travel to the border region with Azerbaijan and the State Department notes that U.S. Embassy employees and their families are prohibited from any non-essential travel to the Gegharkunik region east of Vardenis; the Syunik region east of Goris and the Syunik region south of Kapan.

The State Department updated its travel guidance for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza on April 11. Americans are encouraged to reconsider travel to Israel and the West Bank due to terrorism and civil unrest. Meanwhile, travelers should avoid Gaza due to the threat of terrorism and armed conflict. 

As of April 12, Americans are advised to reconsider travel to mainland China due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, including in relation to exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions.

The State Department asks travelers to exercise increased caution when visiting the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws.

Elsewhere in China, the Macau Special Administrative Region receives a Level 3 advisory as of mid-April due to a limited ability to provide emergency consular services.

Those who do visit should exercise increased caution when traveling to the special administrative region due to the arbitrary enforcement of local laws, the State Department warns.

Travelers are encouraged to exercise increased caution in Ecuador due to civil unrest, crime and kidnapping. Guayaquil, south of Portete de Tarqui Avenue, due to crime. Visitors should reconsider travel to Guayaquil north of Portete de Tarqui Avenue; El Oro province outside the cities of Huaquillas and Arenillas; Los Rios province outside the cities of Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo; all areas south of Esmeraldas city in Esmeraldas province and the provinces of Sucumbios, Manabi, Santa Elena, and Santo Domingo due to crime.

Meanwhile, travelers should avoid the cities of Huaquillas and Arenillas in the province of El Oro; the cities of Quevedo, Quinsaloma, and Pueblo Viejo in the province of Los Rios; the canton of Duran, in the province of Guayas and Esmeraldas city and all areas north of Esmeraldas city in Esmeraldas province due to crime.

On April 24, the State Department updated its Level 4 travel advisory for Iraq to reflect the termination of the Ordered Departure of non-emergency U.S. government employees and eligible family members. Travelers should continue to avoid Iraq due to terrorism, kidnapping, armed conflict, civil unrest and Mission Iraq's limited capacity to provide support to U.S. citizens.