No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeArchiveMalaria Outbreak Hits Caribbean

Malaria Outbreak Hits Caribbean

An outbreak of 13 cases of “falciparum” malaria in the Caribbean province of Limón has led the Public Health Ministry to issue an alert for the area, Public Health Minister María Luisa Avila announced this week.

Authorities have observed “high risk” cases of this strain of malaria, which is rare and has not been seen in Costa Rica in 10 years. The ministry is advising citizens to “take immediate and constant measures to keep it from spreading,” including using mosquito nets.

The mosquito-transmitted disease could multiply and spread to other areas of the country, Avila said.

So far, there have been 13 confirmed cases of falciparum malaria and 29 people who suspect they have the disease.Most of them live in the canton of Matina, on the Caribbean slope.

Falciparum malaria is transmitted by a mosquito that deposits into the human body a parasite, which then attacks the blood. This can cause severe anemia that can lead to death if it is not treated in time.

The Public Health Ministry is sending additional medical personnel to Batán to implement preventive measures to keep the disease from spreading.

 

Popular Articles

Costa Rica’s Harsh Prison Reforms Spark Hunger Strikes, Protests

The Costa Rican government, under President Rodrigo Chaves, has implemented stringent new regulations for inmates in maximum-security prisons, drawing inspiration from El Salvador’s controversial...

Latin America Reacts to Trump’s 100% Tariff Threat on Foreign-Made Movies

“We want movies made in the United States again!” declared President Donald Trump, as he announced a 100% tariff on films produced abroad. Without...

Costa Rica’s Press Freedom Decline in 2025: What’s Happening?

Costa Rica has long been a beacon of democracy in Latin America, with a proud history of protecting press freedom. But the 2025 World...
Avatar
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait

Latest Articles