Ecuador prison faces severe sanitation crisis that fuels tuberculosis risk

The Penitenciaría del Litoral, a prison in Ecuador, is plagued by extreme unsanitary conditions. Reports by the Permanent Committee for the Defense of Human Rights (CDH) and the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) describe persistent rat infestations, sewage, rodent excrement, lack of potable water, intermittent electricity and cleaning lapses lasting up to five days. Inmates are forced to use their cells as toilets, lack basic hygiene supplies such as soap and toothpaste, and endure overcrowding and poor ventilation.

These conditions create a breeding ground for infectious diseases, particularly tuberculosis. Experts cited in the reports warn that close quarters and inadequate airflow markedly increase TB transmission risk. The reports, issued in September 2025 (CDH) and November 18 2025 (MSP), also note violations of bio‑security standards and chronic infrastructure failures. Legal action has been taken, with a protection suit filed in December 2025 referencing a prison‑inspection report from April 2025.

The situation highlights a broader crisis in prison habitability and health management, prompting calls for urgent sanitation improvements, adequate water and electricity supply, regular cleaning, and measures to control TB spread among the incarcerated population.