Costa Rica has confirmed its sixth chikungunya case of the year, this time involving a 53-year-old woman from Alajuelita who recently traveled to Nicaragua.
The case was first detected at a Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social health facility and later confirmed by the Instituto Costarricense de Investigación y Enseñanza en Nutrición y Salud, known as Inciensa. After the epidemiological review, health authorities classified the infection as a likely imported case.
The new report brings Costa Rica’s 2026 chikungunya total to six confirmed cases. The previous five were detected in Esparza, where two cases were reported, along with separate cases in Guanacaste, Heredia, and Tibás.
Chikungunya is a mosquito-borne virus transmitted mainly by Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus, the same mosquitoes that can spread dengue and Zika. The disease is known for sudden fever and strong joint pain, often with swelling, headache, nausea, fatigue, rash, and general body discomfort.
The latest case comes as Costa Rica continues monitoring mosquito-borne illnesses during the rainy season, when standing water can increase breeding sites around homes, lots, patios, gutters, buckets, tires, plant pots, and other containers.
Health officials are asking residents and travelers to reduce exposure to mosquito bites and remove standing water. The main recommendations are to use repellent, wear long-sleeved clothing when possible, place mosquito nets or screens in sleeping areas, and check around homes for containers that can collect rainwater.
The case is a reminder that chikungunya risk is regional, not limited to one country. People returning from areas with mosquito activity should watch for fever, joint pain, rash, or other symptoms in the days after travel and seek medical attention if symptoms appear.
Costa Rica has not reported a large chikungunya outbreak this year, but the confirmation of another case tied to recent travel keeps the disease on the public health radar. The immediate concern is preventing mosquitoes from biting infected people and then spreading the virus locally.
Authorities say epidemiological surveillance remains active across our country.
