Costa Rica Confirms Another Measles Case

The Costa Rica Ministry of Health today announced it confirmed a measles case near the capital city of San Jose.

This new measles patient was detected on January 11, 2024. In 2023, one measles patient was also confirmed.

Given this new measles case, the Costa Rica health authorities conducted all follow-up efforts to address the situation. Currently, this person is in good health.

An active community search for cases in San Josecito de San Rafael de Heredia was conducted on January 18, 2024. As a result of the search, no additional measles cases were found, as most of the people approached had completed vaccination schedules. A total of 408 houses were visited.

After the WHO Region of the Americas was declared measles-free in September 2016, a steady increase in imported measles cases from other WHO Regions and between countries within the Region of the Americas was observed.

For example, several states in the eastern United States have reported measles cases in early 2024.

Last year, the Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization (PAHO/WHO) urged Member States to continue activities to increase and maintain adequate vaccination coverage against measles, rubella, and mumps (MMR).

Globally, the WHO has reported significant measles outbreaks throughout 2023.

In addition to measles, Costa Rica confronted an expansion of Dengue and Zika cases in 2023.