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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Costa Rica after the outbreak of a deadly mosquito-borne virus, urging United States citizens to "practice enhanced precautions."
On July 1, 2026, Costa Rica's Ministry of Health declared an active chikungunya outbreak after four cases were confirmed and 17 were classified as probable among both Costa Rican nationals and foreigners.
So far in 2026, the country has reported 16 total cases, including the current outbreak. Chikungunya is a viral illness spread through mosquito bites, with symptoms appearing three to seven days after being bitten and include high fever, severe joint and muscle pain, headache, swelling, and a rash. While most people recover within a week, some experience joint pain for months or years.
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Currently, no medicines are available to treat chikungunya, but rest, fluids, and over-the-counter pain medicines can relieve some symptoms, CDC notes.
It recommends vaccination for travelers visiting an area with a chikungunya outbreak.
Newborns infected around the time of birth, adults aged 65 years or older, and people with medical conditions such as diabetes or heart disease are at risk for more severe disease. The viral illness rarely causes death.
In February, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) first issued an epidemiological alert after a rise of cases in several countries in the Americas since late 2025 to early 2026.
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"Chikungunya spread across the Americas in 2013, and after years of low transmission, we are now observing a resurgence, particularly in the Intertropical Zone where Aedes aegypti is present," said Sylvain Aldighieri, director of communicable diseases prevention, control, and elimination at PAHO.
The CDC has urged travelers to popular destinations like Playa Langosta, Tamarindo, and other parts of Guanacaste to stay alert and seek medical care if they develop symptoms during or after their trip.
