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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a travel notice for Costa Rica this week in response to a malaria outbreak (Plasmodium falciparum malaria) in the provinces of Limón and Alajuela.
The latest information from the health ministry notes a total of 115 positive cases of malaria in the Huerta Caribe region.
Health officials say if you are traveling to Limón or Alajuela Province, you should speak to your healthcare professional about how to prevent mosquito bites and which antimalarial drug is best for you. You should start taking antimalarial drugs prior to travel.
Malaria can be prevented by avoiding mosquito bites and taking a prescription antimalarial drug.
Seek medical care if you develop fever, chills, sweats, headache, vomiting, or body aches. Malaria is a medical emergency, and appropriate treatment should not be delayed.
Malaria is a disease caused by a parasite that spreads to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito.
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Four kinds of malaria parasites infect humans: Plasmodium falciparum, P. vivax, P. ovale, and P. malariae. P. falciparum is the type of malaria that is most likely to result in severe disease and if not promptly treated, may lead to death.
Early symptoms of malaria resemble those of the flu, including fever, chills, sweats, headache, vomiting, and body aches.
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