Costa Rica chikungunya outbreak prompts CDC Level 2 travel warning

Key Points:

• The CDC has issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for Costa Rica's Guanacaste Province due to an outbreak of the mosquito-borne chikungunya virus, with most cases reported in Playa Langosta, a popular tourist area.
• Chikungunya causes fever, severe joint pain, and other symptoms, with some individuals experiencing prolonged joint pain lasting months to years; no specific treatment exists, so prevention through mosquito bite protection is crucial.
• Costa Rica's Ministry of Health has confirmed four cases and identified 17 probable cases among both residents and visitors, prompting fumigation efforts and mosquito breeding site elimination to contain the outbreak.
• The CDC advises travelers to use insect repellent, wear protective clothing, stay in screened or air-conditioned accommodations, and recommends pregnant women reconsider travel to the affected area due to risks to newborns.
• This advisory follows similar CDC Level 2 travel notices issued earlier this year for chikungunya outbreaks in Bolivia, Seychelles, Cuba, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and China's Guangdong Province.