Costa Rica News – The first possible confirmed case of the Chikungunya virus has been reported to the Costa Rica health system. A lady from France visited Costa Rica and went home with a case of Chikungunya Fever.
She came to Costa Rica with her mother on the 10th of May and went to San Jose, Tortuguero, La Fortuna, Monteverde and Quepos. She left on the 21st and developed symptoms 6 days later.
The Costa Rican Ministry of Health was alerted by the National Virology Laboratory in France. Since the disease is not actively transmitted in France and the woman had not been to any other countries recently, it can only be assumed that she contracted it here in Costa Rica.
Chikungunya came to the Caribbean region late last year. Costa Rica has had four confirmed cases of it. It is transmitted by the same mosquito that transmits Dengue Fever.
The disease attacks just once and then creates immunity. The symptoms include high fever (over 102 degrees), fatigue, nausea and terrible muscle aches. Because the incubation period is high, the risk of infecting others increases. In some extreme cases, symptoms reappear 2-3 months later and leave lasting rheumatic symptoms.
Everyone should take caution to empty anything around your home that collects water, as this attracts mosquitoes.
