Costa Rica is a country in Central America, located between the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea, neighboring Panama and Nicaragua. It has a population of around 5,174,564 people, out of all the other Central American countries, many regard Costa Rica’s government as the most stable and democratic and has a beautiful landscape and scenery. It has also been home to quite deadly and common diseases with terrifying effects and symptoms.

These diseases seriously disrupt people’s everyday lives and are dangerous if left untreated. Each one of these viruses is preventable and has treatments that ensure lives are saved, but because the country struggles with poverty, many of its people are unable to safely access medical care and treatment. Here is information about three diseases impacting Costa Rica and the efforts that are addressing them.

1. Hantavirus

Hantavirus is a group of zoonotic viruses that rodents carry and transmit to humans through direct contact with infected rodents or their bodily fluids. Areas at high risk of disease are barns, storage rooms, rustic cabins and poorly ventilated rural buildings due to high rodent activity.

The illness can be quite severe and deadly to people, but it varies depending on the specific type of hantavirus, which includes hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) and haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). It also depends on the geographical location and climate. Now, Costa Rica has not seen a large hantavirus outbreak, unlike their South American neighbors, but the threat is still there and people must be careful. Hantavirus transmits through contact with infected rodents or their droppings.

In humans, the symptoms may vary depending on the type of hantavirus; for example, HCPS causes rapid coughing, shortness of breath, accumulation of fluid in the lungs and shock. Meanwhile, for HFRS, the symptoms are low blood pressure, bleeding disorders and kidney failure.

Diagnosing the illness can be tricky due to it sharing common symptoms with other illnesses like influenza and COVID-19, meaning that extra attention is necessary when symptoms do arise and people must seek medical care as soon as possible. As of now, there are no current specific vaccines available for the disease, but medical care at its early stages can improve the outcomes. To prevent the disease, reducing contact with rodents is a good start. Some effective measures include keeping homes and workplaces clean, sealing any openings that allow rodents to enter buildings, storing food securely and dampening contaminated areas before cleaning,

2. Dengue

Dengue is a viral infection that transmits through mosquito bites, which transfers the virus to a person’s bloodstream. It is common in tropical and subtropical areas where the buzzing critters inhabit. Costa Rica has a history of dengue cases, with it reporting more than 27,000 cases by October 2024 and a decline in cases in 2025 with only 1,802 reported. This reduction in cases is likely due to the increase in vector-control throughout the country. In 2026, dengue remains a common disease, even if it’s on a lower scale than the previous surge, people must still be cautious and aware of this illness.

Symptoms may include high fever, severe headache, pain behind the eyes, muscle and joint pains, nausea and vomiting, swollen glands and rashes. However, in the case a person gets infected with dengue a second time, the illness becomes more severe with symptoms of severe abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, rapid breathing, bleeding gums or nose, fatigue and restlessness, blood in vomit or stool, extreme thirst, pale and cold skin and feelings of weakness. People experiencing these symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.

There is a single vaccine available, QDenga, which is only recommended for people aged 6–16 years. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), several more vaccines are in the development stage, with a few under evaluation for this disease. It is also highly important to avoid bites from mosquitoes in general with the use of mosquito nets at night, along with mosquito repellent and wearing protective clothing. If a person gets dengue, they must rest, drink plenty of liquids, take paracetamol for the pain, but avoid anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen and aspirin and be aware if they have any severe symptoms and see a doctor if that’s the case.

3. Chikungunya

Chikungunya is yet another mosquito-related viral disease, particularly the Aedes mosquito. The disease results from the chikungunya virus and passes through mosquito bites into the blood vessels. The name comes from the Kimakonde language of southern Tanzania, meaning “that which bends up,” which describes the severe joint pain those infected with the disease experience.

Its symptoms are sudden fever, muscle pain, severe joint pain, joint swelling, rashes, headache and fatigue. These symptoms can often be mistaken for other illnesses due to overlapping; for example, Zika and dengue have similar symptoms, and as a result, misdiagnosis becomes a large possibility, especially if the joint pain aspect is missing, as it could leave the infection undetected, thus leading to worse conditions.

Not all is hopeless, as blood samples collected in the first week of the illness can easily help detect chikungunya. Treatment includes the use of antipyretics and optimal analgesics for the fever and joint pains, as well as rest and drinking plenty of liquids. As of now, there are two chikungunya vaccines available in several countries, but not yet worldwide. WHO and external expert advisors are currently reviewing the research and progress of more chikungunya vaccines.

The Effects of Poverty on Healthcare Access & NGO Aid

There still remains the issue of poverty as it effects how much access the people of Costa Rica have to all these healthcare options. According to recent statistics, around 24–25% households are below the poverty line, with a large portion of the population struggling to get access to basic necessities, such as healthcare. As a result, many in rural areas are not able to easily receive these treatments against the diseases impacting Costa Rica, leaving them incredibly vulnerable to potential dangers.

A number of organizations and NGOs are trying to help these households. A specific NGO, called Costa Rican Humanitarian Foundation (CRHF), aims to help Costa Rican citizens in these issues. From its founding in 1997, the organization focuses on developing creative and economical solutions for the country’s major challenges. With volunteers from all over the world and donors, it set out to achieve a positive impact in Costa Rica. A few of its achievements include providing urgent medical care and general well-being checks for more than 500 patients in 2025 and supporting more than 800 children and adolescents in the CRHF’s learning centers the same year.

Looking Ahead

These three diseases impacting Costa Rica correlate with the constraints of poverty and a difficult economic situation, which can prevent people from accessing vital medical treatments. Fortunately, NGOS like CRHF are making a difference, helping even those with lower incomes access medical care.

– Michalitsa Kontogianni

Michalitsa is based in Washington, DC, USA and focuses on Good News and Global Health for The Borgen Project.

Photo: Unsplash