Costa Rica: Health alert for malaria

Event

The Costa Rican authorities are on alert due to the presence of the mosquito-borne disease malaria in the country. Nine locally-acquired (autochthonous) cases have been confirmed since the beginning of the year (as of mid-September) after five full years without a single case. The disease is believed to have initially been imported from neighboring Nicaragua.

Cases have so far been detected in the cantons of Matina (Limón province; four cases), Sarapiquí (Heredia province; three cases), and Pital (Alajaula province; two cases).

Context

Generally speaking, the risk of contracting malaria is highest at night (between dusk and dawn), when the mosquitoes that transmit the disease are most active. There is typically little to no risk of contracting the disease in zones over 1500 m (5000 ft) in elevation or in urban areas, although the disease may be present in city outskirts.

Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, headache, nausea, and body aches; early symptoms usually appear between seven and 15 days after the contaminating mosquito bite.

Various other mosquito-borne diseases are also present in Costa Risk, including dengue fever, the Zika virus, and chikungunya.

Advice

Individuals in Costa Rica are advised to take measures to prevent mosquito bites and to seek medical attention if presenting the above symptoms.