Health Costa Rica: Staying Healthy During Your Trip to Costa Rica

Prevent Insect Bites while in Costa Rica

Many diseases, like malaria and dengue, are spread through insect bites. One of the best protections is to prevent insect bites by:

Using insect repellent (bug spray) with 30%-50% DEET. Picaridin, available in 7% and 15% concentrations, needs more frequent application. There is less information available on how effective picaridin is at protecting against all of the types of mosquitoes that transmit malaria.
Wearing long-sleeved shirts, long pants, and a hat outdoors.
Remaining indoors in a screened or air-conditioned area during the peak biting period for malaria (dusk and dawn).
Sleeping in beds covered by nets treated with permethrin, if not sleeping in an air-conditioned or well-screened room.
Spraying rooms with products effective against flying insects, such as those containing pyrethroid.

Prevent Animal Bites and Scratches while in Costa Rica

Direct contact with animals can spread diseases like rabies or cause serious injury or illness. It is important to prevent animal bites and scratches.
Be sure you are up to date with tetanus vaccination.
Do not touch or feed any animals, including dogs and cats. Even animals that look like healthy pets can have rabies or other diseases.
Help children stay safe by supervising them carefully around all animals.
If you are bitten or scratched, wash the wound well with soap and water and go to a doctor right away.
After your trip, be sure to tell your doctor or state health department if you were bitten or scratched during travel to Costa Rica.