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| *Travel Tips>>>Costa Rica Travel Tips |
Should I take precautions against malaria in Costa Rica? |
Travel Info I am travelling to Manuel Antonio, Islita (Southern Guanacaste coast), Monteverde, and Arenal in December for my honeymoon. Is it really necessary to take pills for malaria? Also, I understand I need to take precautions against mosquitoes, but does this mean I should be covered in DEET 24 hours a day? Thanks, from a nervous traveller! Travel Tips We have traveled to Costa Rica extensively and lived there for a year (in Guanacaste). There is really no need to worry about Malaria. I have never had a single vaccination before going but I don't think it would hurt to check out hepatitis and maybe get a tetanus update. The areas that you are going are very civilized and though the hospitals might not be what you are used to; they can take care of business and transfer you if need be to private hospitals in San Jose. I rarely use the mosquito spray but simply wear long pants, socks and sleeves at night. In December, you will have little problem because the weather is dry and the winds pick up, making those pesky mosquitoes less of an issue. Enjoy your trip and don't worry! It is a very safe country in many ways! Manuel Antonio is one of the best places to view wildlife without being on an African safari! Others We went last year and our doctor said only neccessary to go the malaria route if we were going to be in the part of the country that literally touches Panama...where infestations are. We didn't do it...family of 5...all came back fine. Another friend of mine went 3 months earlier..family of 4, they didn't get shots either. We were covered in DEET most of the time..but important to know...spraying DEET on your clothes works just about as well as ON YOU...so spray clothes liberally and yourself less so. I don't know if you've been to central america before..but bring clothes that breathe well...struck me as much more humid than every place I've been except the Philippines. You will LOVE this trip...I LOVED it and so did my friends and family..the people are so friendly and nice! I'd go to the CDC website for travellers to check what they recommend. I do know most people going to Costa Rica do not take anti-malarials. Recently there was a report of 10 cases of falciparum malaria in Limon, so I'd be a little careful. Medical entomology Grad student who studies mosquitoes No, the only reported cases of malaria have been in Limon Province and near the Nicararaguan border in Alajuela province. Anti-malarials are not needed for the places on your itinerary (Guanacaste Province and Manuel Antonio in Puntarenas Province). Use DEET however, because dengue--although uncommon is around in Liberia and Puntarenas towns. You should not worry about malaria unless you're going to the Caribbean side. I read yesterday that there is an outbreak there, although malaria has never been a problem in Costa Rica. You don't need pills or shots. Now, the concern would be dengue fever. Since there is no shot for that, prevention is the key. Use an insect repellent with at least 23% DEET at dawn and (especially) at dusk (that's when they bite). They also bite in the shade but during the day it's not such a big problem. Enjoy your trip! I'm Costa Rican. |
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