Mosquito borne illnesses

Costa Rica had been relatively free of dangerous parasite diseases (malaria, dengue, yellow fever, typhoid) for a long time. Since 1996 there have been very few cases reported, and all cases have been related to poor sanitation/poor neighborhoods. According to the Center for Disease Control, mosquito-borne illnesses are related to poor water and sanitation, meaning people who work in urban poor areas are the most likely to encounter the type of poor sanitation and drainage that breeds this type mosquito.

There is preventive medication For malaria, but the side effects of nausea may be worse than the risk of infection would warrant. We recommend you discuss with your doctor whether to take anti-malarial medication.

For your information, none of the Serendipity guides uses anti-malaria medication nor have any of our guides contracted malaria in Costa Rica.

The best prevention for mosquito borne illnesses is to avoid mosquito bites. Use mosquito repellent (Serendipity guides will have some on hand, but if you have sensitive skin you may want to provide your own), and wear clothes that cover your skin.

ZIKA Virus

There have been fewer cases of Zika in Costa Rica than in Miami. There have been no cases in Costa Rica of the disease acquired within the country. The cases reported were among refugees arriving from Nicaragua.

Hepatitis

Whereas the incidence of Hepatitis A and B is low in Costa Rica, there have been recent outbreaks in the USA — Detroit, Miami, New Orleans, and other cities. Worldwide, Hepatitis is a serious disease, affecting millions. There are now vaccines for both Hepatitis A and B, and we encourage everyone to get the inoculations, which protect you for 10 years to life, and will be really handy someday when you venture to Mardi Gras or the Auto Show. Some rivers in Costa Rica have had Hepatitis show up in analysis, but none of the Caribbean slope white water rivers (Pacuare, Sarapiquí, Peñas Blancas, Pejebeye) have ever tested "positive" to Hepatitis.

Tetanus

Be sure to have your TETANUS inoculation brought up to date. Tetanus lives in the soil, and you're virtually guaranteed to scrape a knee or the like while in Costa Rica doing silly adventure stuff.

Cholera

Thanks to good sanitation and clean water supplies, Cholera is virtually unheard of in Costa Rica. It is not, however, unheard of in Nicaragua, and if you spend time in Nicaragua prior or after visiting Costa Rica you may be asked for proof of immunization.

Water Quality

Parasitic infections are rare in Costa Rica, and drinking water quality in Costa Rica is excellent. Bottled water is readily available, however, and we keep containers in the vehicle with us. In all the areas we travel it is completely safe to drink the water straight from the tap, unless the hotel specifically directs you to drink bottled water.