No menu items!

COSTA RICA'S LEADING ENGLISH LANGUAGE NEWSPAPER

HomeTopicsHealthCosta Rica Dengue Cases Surge Past 30000 Mark in 2024

Costa Rica Dengue Cases Surge Past 30000 Mark in 2024

Dengue has posed a public health risk in Costa Rica. The Ministry of Health predicts that by the end of 2024, there will be over 30,000 cumulative dengue cases. This means that 2024 is the second year with an increase in reported cases since 2013, which saw a record high of nearly 50,000 diagnoses.

Roberto Castro, director of the Epidemiology Unit at the Ministry of Health, indicated that the anticipated trends of this disease since the year’s start made him predict an even more severe situation. The specialist noted that 2024 started with an atypical surge of cases in Alajuela and San José, prompting him to anticipate a year marked by a high incidence of this illness.

“Upon examining the case curve that was shown at the start of the year, it appeared to indicate that it would be a dreadful year, particularly considering that we have experienced slightly more than a year of the four dengue serotypes circulating in Costa Rica,” he clarified. The Ministry of Health has executed various strategies and enhanced plans to eradicate breeding locations while also promoting awareness about the significance of self-protection against this illness.

On December 13 of last year, reports released by health officials indicated that 1,243,629 residences had undergone fumigation, resulting in the removal of 1,172,494 breeding sites. “We have enhanced our emphasis on locating and eradicating the vector through spraying, along with extensive testing and treatment of at-risk and surrounding communities in key cantons,” said Castro.

As stated by the World Health Organization (WHO), dengue is a viral disease passed from mosquitoes to humans. It occurs more often in tropical and subtropical areas. Signs of the illness include a high fever, intense headaches, discomfort behind the eyes, muscle and joint aches, nausea, vomiting, swollen lymph nodes, and skin rashes. Visiting a health center is crucial when experiencing these symptoms to obtain proper care

Trending Now

Panama Canal Warns of Traffic Decline as Economic Uncertainty Grows

The Panama Canal will take in about $400 million less in the next fiscal year due to a drop in ship traffic caused by...

Panama Union Files Lawsuits Against Chiquita Over Mass Layoffs

Panama’s President, José Raúl Mulino, will meet in Brazil with U.S. banana company Chiquita Brands in search of an agreement for the company to...

The Most Clueless Gringo in Costa Rica: A Satirical Take on Expat Life

If part of your online day includes mindless scrolling through reels, you’ve probably seen the Dos Equis beer parody commercials. The original ads featured the...

President Chaves Downplays Costa Rica’s Security Crisis Amid Record Homicides

President Rodrigo Chaves brushed off concerns about Costa Rica's surging violence during his Wednesday press conference, insisting the security situation "is not as serious"...

Major Cocaine Seizure in Costa Rica’s South Highlights Ongoing Cartel Fight

Costa Rican police pulled off a big win against drug traffickers this Sunday, seizing over a ton of cocaine hidden in a tourism minibus...

Mexico Battles Wildfire Damage with Drone-Based Reforestation

Authorities in the state of Michoacán, in western Mexico, are using drones to scatter seeds from the air in an effort to reforest hundreds...
spot_img
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