New data released by the Costa Rica Health Ministry’s Department of Health Surveillance (computer translated) show dramatic increases in cases of the mosquito borne viral diseases, dengue fever and chikungunya.
Costa Rica recorded 6,357 cases of dengue during the first four months of 2016. This is a more than 600 percent increase compared to the same period in 2015 (981).
Concerning chikungunya, a viral infection transmitted by the same mosquito vector as dengue and Zika virus, 1,372 cases have been reported. This is up from 198 cases recorded Jan. through Apr. 2015.
As rainy season arrives in Costa Rica, health officials expect these numbers to increase further.
Costa Rica has reported 25 confirmed Zika cases this year to date.
Related: 13 Diseases You Can Get From Mosquitoes
Dengue fever has been flourishing in the Western hemisphere this year as more than 1.1 million cases have been reported during the first third of the year, with 800,000 cases reported in Brazil alone.
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