The Ministry of Health announced on April 10 the confirmation of the third positive case of chikungunya in the country for 2026, based on results from the laboratory of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund. The sample has been sent to the Costa Rican Institute for Research and Teaching in Nutrition and Health (INCIENSA) for further confirmation.
This development is important as it marks a resurgence of chikungunya cases after several years without active circulation. According to health authorities, there had been no active transmission of this virus in Costa Rica since 2017; however, two previous cases were already reported earlier this year in Esparza.
The latest case involves a 45-year-old foreign man living in Guanacaste who is not experiencing any health complications. The epidemiological investigation indicates that he entered Costa Rica during the incubation period, suggesting it is an imported case.
Chikungunya fever is caused by a virus transmitted through mosquito bites. The Ministry said it continues active epidemiological surveillance and coordination with other agencies to control mosquito populations and protect public health. “El Ministerio de Salud reafirma su compromiso con la prevención y la atención oportuna de las enfermedades, e insta a la población a informarse únicamente a través de los canales oficiales,” said the Ministry.
Authorities recommend that people stay informed only through official channels and follow prevention guidelines as part of ongoing efforts to limit further spread.
