Malaria in Costa Rica and Nicaragua (La Trocha)
22 Sep 2021
According to media (in Spanish) on 22 September 2021, an outbreak of malaria has been reported in the settlement of La Trocha (Huetar Norte region) on the border between Costa Rica and Nicaragua.
There have been 8 cases on the Costa Rica side of the border and 7 in Nicaragua. Malaria is unusual in this area and this outbreak is thought to be linked to cross-border travel through La Trocha.
Advice for Travellers
Malaria is a potentially serious infection that is transmitted to humans by mosquito bites.
If you travelling to this area, while there are higher than expected cases of malaria are being reported, you should:
- understand your risk of malaria, given the current increase in cases
- know how to protect yourself against mosquito bites during your trip
- talk to a travel health professional to find out if you may need to take tablets to prevent malaria (antimalarials) during your trip
If you develop a high temperature (fever) during your trip, or if you have recently returned from a country where malaria is a risk, you should seek medical advice as soon as possible and tell the doctor about your recent travel history.
See the fitfortravel Malaria section for further information.