No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeNewsCosta RicaCosta Rica hopes to eliminate malaria in country by 2022

Costa Rica hopes to eliminate malaria in country by 2022

Costa Rica hopes to report zero indigenous malaria cases in 2020 and to eliminate malaria nationwide by 2022, according to a report from the Ministry of Health.

The report says Costa Rica’s efforts to enact national risk stratification profiles and adhere to the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization’s integrated diagnosis, treatment, investigation and response (DTI-R) model have helped the country contain malaria outbreaks.

In addition, the Ministry of Health says, its officials have received specialized training in the rapid identification and prevention of malaria. 

Malaria elimination, according to WHO, is the “interruption of local transmission (reduction to zero incidence of indigenous cases) of a specified malaria parasite species in a defined geographic area.”

A WHO analysis published in 2016 named Costa Rica among 21 countries that have the potential to eliminate malaria by 2020.

Costa Rica strengthens path to malaria elimination

In 2019, Costa Rica has reported 111 cases of malaria and its path to malaria elimination is “somewhat off track,” according to WHO. The organization cites illegal mining in northern Costa Rica as a potential barrier to malaria elimination.

Indeed, Costa Rica has recorded the majority of its 2019 malaria cases in the northern canton of San Carlos, Alajuela province.

However, the Health Ministry says its efforts have neutralized malaria outbreaks — particularly on the country’s northern Caribbean.

“The entire health sector nationwide is working to ensure detection, diagnosis, treatment, research and quality response to eliminate the parasite from any reservoir of malaria in the country, while strengthening the epidemiological surveillance system to ensure that cases are detected promptly to perform integrated vector management and reduce the risk of reintroduction in vulnerable areas,” said Alejandra Acuna, Deputy Minister of Health. 

To help monitor Costa Rica’s progress, the Ministry of Health has collaborated with PAHO/WHO to create an independent team of health specialists to advise the country on its implemented actions.

Trending Now

Costa Rica’s New Extradition Law Faces Limits in Tackling Organized Crime

Costa Rica’s Legislative Assembly passed a constitutional amendment in May, allowing the extradition of nationals for international drug trafficking and terrorism. With 44 of...

Costa Rica’s UN Ocean Conference Role Slammed as Hypocritical

Costa Rica’s high-profile role in the 2025 United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France, has triggered fierce criticism from lawmakers and environmentalists, who...

Rising Seas Threaten Costa Rica’s Beaches and Communities by 2030

Costa Rica’s iconic coastlines, from Limón’s Caribbean shores to Guanacaste’s Pacific beaches, face growing threats from rising sea levels driven by climate change. The...

Costa Rica Faces Slower Growth and Rising Exchange Rate Pressures

Costa Rica is bracing for a challenging economic landscape through 2025 and into 2026, marked by slower growth, exchange rate pressures, and mounting uncertainties,...

Panama Police Clash with Protesters Over Pension Reform Near Costa Rica Border

Police and protesters clashed in Panama on Saturday during an operation to clear a highway near the Costa Rican border, where teachers and Indigenous...

UN Ocean Summit Ends with Progress but No Clear Funding

The UN Ocean Summit concluded in Nice with advances in protecting the high seas—but without any clear financial commitments. After bringing together around 60...
spot_img
Costa Rica Tours
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Coffee Maker Chorreador
Costa Rica Travel Insurance
Costa Rica Rocking Chait
Costa Rica Travel

Latest News from Costa Rica