Costa Rica Travel Alert: CDC Issues Malaria Outbreak Warning By
Tico Times, April 23, 2023.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/) has issued a warning regarding an outbreak of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Limón, Costa Rica. In addition, there is also malaria transmission in Alajuela Province. Malaria is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease that is transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitoes.
It is important for individuals traveling to Limón or Alajuela Province to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites and take a prescription antimalarial drug. This is particularly important for individuals who may be at higher risk of infection, including those who are traveling for extended periods of time, those who will be spending time in rural areas, and those who have compromised immune systems.
Preventing mosquito bites is the best way to protect against malaria. Travelers should use insect repellent, wear protective clothing, and use bed nets when sleeping. In addition, travelers should take a prescription antimalarial drug prior to travel to reduce the risk of infection.
It is important for travelers to speak to their healthcare professionals about which antimalarial drug is best for them. The choice of antimalarial drug will depend on a number of factors, including the individual’s health status, the specific destination, and the duration of travel. Some antimalarial drugs may have side effects and may not be suitable for all travelers.
If you develop symptoms of malaria, such as fever, chills, sweats, headache, vomiting, or body aches, it is important to seek medical care immediately. Malaria is a medical emergency, and appropriate treatment should not be delayed. Delaying treatment can lead to serious complications and even death.
The Costa Rican Ministry of Health is also conducting investigations and asking residents to take measures to avoid mosquito bites. Travelers should be aware of these efforts and take appropriate precautions to protect themselves.
What is history's deadliest pandemic? https://youtu.be/DsBic43LHIQ. Malaria in U.S. Traveler to Costa Rica (2018, https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/new_info/2018/costa_rica_5_2018.html).
Tico Times, April 23, 2023.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, https://www.cdc.gov/) has issued a warning regarding an outbreak of Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Limón, Costa Rica. In addition, there is also malaria transmission in Alajuela Province. Malaria is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease that is transmitted by the bites of infected mosquitoes.
It is important for individuals traveling to Limón or Alajuela Province to take precautions to prevent mosquito bites and take a prescription antimalarial drug. This is particularly important for individuals who may be at higher risk of infection, including those who are traveling for extended periods of time, those who will be spending time in rural areas, and those who have compromised immune systems.
Preventing mosquito bites is the best way to protect against malaria. Travelers should use insect repellent, wear protective clothing, and use bed nets when sleeping. In addition, travelers should take a prescription antimalarial drug prior to travel to reduce the risk of infection.
It is important for travelers to speak to their healthcare professionals about which antimalarial drug is best for them. The choice of antimalarial drug will depend on a number of factors, including the individual’s health status, the specific destination, and the duration of travel. Some antimalarial drugs may have side effects and may not be suitable for all travelers.
If you develop symptoms of malaria, such as fever, chills, sweats, headache, vomiting, or body aches, it is important to seek medical care immediately. Malaria is a medical emergency, and appropriate treatment should not be delayed. Delaying treatment can lead to serious complications and even death.
The Costa Rican Ministry of Health is also conducting investigations and asking residents to take measures to avoid mosquito bites. Travelers should be aware of these efforts and take appropriate precautions to protect themselves.
What is history's deadliest pandemic? https://youtu.be/DsBic43LHIQ. Malaria in U.S. Traveler to Costa Rica (2018, https://www.cdc.gov/malaria/new_info/2018/costa_rica_5_2018.html).
On May 4, 2018, a case of P. falciparum malaria in a U.S. traveler who returned from Costa Rica was reported to CDC. The 54-year-old man was traveling in the Osa Peninsula in Puntarenas Province in Costa Rica from April 7–20, 2018, for ecotourism. Seven days after returning, he developed fever, body aches, and gastrointestinal symptoms, and was admitted to the hospital. Thick and thin blood smears for malaria were negative, but the malaria rapid diagnostic test was positive. Further testing with polymerase chain reaction confirmed P. falciparum malaria. This patient was treated with atovaquone-proguanil and fully recovered. Costa Rica had no local transmission of malaria from 2013 through most of 2016. Then, at the end of 2016, 4 cases of locally transmitted P. vivax were reported, and again in 2017 9 cases of P. vivax were reported, all in the northern part of the country. The Osa Peninsula is in the southern part of Costa Rica bordering a part of Panama that has had rare P. falciparum cases, but none in the previous two years. Because of the very limited transmission, travelers to this area had been previously advised to practice only mosquito avoidance measures to prevent malaria.
CDC recommends that travelers to the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica take medications to prevent malaria. Effective antimalarial options include atovaquone-proguanil, chloroquine, doxycycline, and mefloquine.
As malaria and other diseases are spread by mosquito bites, CDC recommends that travelers use mosquito avoidance measures. These measures include using insect repellent when outdoors, wearing protective clothing, staying in an air-conditioned or well-screened area, and sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net.
CDC will continue to monitor the malaria situation in Costa Rica and will update these recommendations as needed.
See the CDC malaria website for additional health information about malaria including prevention of mosquito bites and drugs for malaria prevention. For general health information for travelers to all areas of the world, see the CDC Traveler’s Health website.
As malaria and other diseases are spread by mosquito bites, CDC recommends that travelers use mosquito avoidance measures. These measures include using insect repellent when outdoors, wearing protective clothing, staying in an air-conditioned or well-screened area, and sleeping under an insecticide-treated bed net.
CDC will continue to monitor the malaria situation in Costa Rica and will update these recommendations as needed.
See the CDC malaria website for additional health information about malaria including prevention of mosquito bites and drugs for malaria prevention. For general health information for travelers to all areas of the world, see the CDC Traveler’s Health website.
Rafael Alberto
Vilagut, A cross-cultural manager - ravilagut@ymail.com CEO and founder of the 2nd Chance M2O Movement. Telegram/youtube @ralviv, 24-04-2023.
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