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The CDC is encouraging travelers to “practice enhanced precautions” due to an outbreak of chikungunya in Playa Langosta
NEED TO KNOW
- The CDC issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for Costa Rica due to a chikungunya outbreak in Playa Langosta
- Chikungunya is spread by mosquitoes and can cause fever, joint pain, and other symptoms with long-lasting effects
- Travelers are advised to use mosquito repellents, wear protective clothing, and stay in screened or air-conditioned spaces
The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is warning American travelers of a mosquito-borne illness that is spreading across a popular beach vacation destination.
On July 16, the public health agency issued a Level 2 Travel Health Notice for Costa Rica. The alert warns travelers to “practice enhanced precautions,” citing an outbreak of chikungunya, a disease caused by a virus spread by mosquitoes.
On July 1, Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health declared an active outbreak of the disease in the oceanside community of Playa Langosta in the western province of Guanacaste. An epidemiological survey conducted earlier this month identified 45 suspected cases, and four were later laboratory confirmed. Another 17 were considered likely tied to the outbreak.
The cases include both Costa Rican nationals and foreigners, according to the U.S. Embassy in the country. The Embassy says local transmission means the virus is now circulating among the local mosquito population in the area, not just arriving via travelers.
So far this year, Costa Rica has reported 16 total cases, including the current outbreak. The last time the country identified a case of the disease was in 2017.
According to the CDC, chikungunya spreads to people through the bite of an infected mosquito — specifically the Aedes aegypti or yellow fever variation, the same insect that transmits dengue and Zika.
Symptoms can include fever, joint pain, headaches, muscle pain, joint swelling and rash. During the first week of illness, people sick with chikungunya can spread the virus to uninfected mosquitoes.
The CDC and U.S. Embassy say the best way to prevent chikungunya is to protect oneself from mosquito bites. A vaccine for the illness exists in the United States, but it is not widely available or recommended for routine traveler use at this time. Instead, the agencies recommend taking mosquito bite prevention precautions like EPA-registered repellent, wearing long sleeves and pants, and spending time in air conditioning or screen-netted spaces.
In February, the Pan American Health Organization issued an epidemiological alert following a global rise in chikungunya cases in late 2025 and early 2026. Between Jan. 1, 2025 and Dec. 10, a total of 502,264 cases were reported, including 208,335 confirmed cases and 186 deaths, across 41 countries and territories.
A March 30 report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control found 32,758 chikungunya cases and nine associated deaths across 19 countries were reported between Jan. 1 and Feb. 28.
In October, officials at the New York State Department of Health confirmed a case of chikungunya was locally acquired — the first in state history. It also marked the first local transmission of the virus in the U.S. since 2019.
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Although it’s rarely fatal, the disease can have long-lasting impacts on those sickened. A long-term study of patients six years after they first developed symptoms found that the patients had chronic pain in the joints that were impacted by the virus, with some only able to wear orthopedic shoes, and others struggling with severe fatigue.
Read the original article on People
