Travel health alerts
Disease outbreak alerts for Costa Rica
3 outbreaks reported for Costa Rica
Last checked against TravelHealthPro on 2026-08-23.
Chikungunya
Reported 22 July 2026Spread by mosquito bites
On 13 July 2026, the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica reported an outbreak of chikungunya in Playa Langosta and the surrounding Guanacaste coast including the Santa Cruz area. 45 suspected cases (four confirmed, 17 probable) have been recorded. On 16 July 2026 the US CDC issued a Travel Alert regarding an increased risk of chikungunya to travellers visiting this area.
There's a vaccine for this
Spread by daytime-biting mosquitoes — repellent and covering up are key; a vaccine may suit some travellers.
Yellow fever
Reported 13 October 2025Spread by mosquito bites
On 12 October 2025, authorities in Costa Rica reported a confirmed yellow fever case in an American traveller who recently visited Amazon regions of Peru, before travelling to Costa Rica on 8 October 2025. According to available information, this traveller did not have a yellow fever vaccine.
There's a vaccine for this
Avoid mosquito bites and have the yellow fever vaccine — we're a registered centre and issue the certificate.
Dengue
Reported 29 September 2025Spread by mosquito bites
As of 6 September 2025, a total of 3,837 dengue cases have been reported since the start of the year. All four dengue serotypes have been reported in Costa Rica during 2025.
There's a vaccine for this
Spread by daytime-biting mosquitoes. Use a DEET repellent, cover up, and stay somewhere with screens or air-conditioning.
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Contains public sector information from TravelHealthPro (NaTHNaC), licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. © UK Health Security Agency. Open Government Licence v3.0. This page is general guidance, not medical advice — confirm what you need for your trip with our travel health team.