Costa Rica surpasses 7,000 dengue cases in 2026 with a 38% increase

An Aedes aegypti mosquito perched on a jar with the colors of Costa Rica illustrates the country's epidemiological situation regarding diseases transmitted by this vector. (Illustrative image Infobae) Costa Rica has surpassed 7,000 cumulative dengue cases so far in 2026, a figure that reflects an acceleration in the transmission of the virus carried by the Aedes aegypti mosquito. According to official epidemiological data from the Ministry of Health, the country has recorded 7,017 infections through week 43, representing a 38% increase compared to the same period in 2025, when 4,345 notifications were registered. Of the total recorded at health centers, 103 patients presented warning signs, a medical condition requiring strict monitoring to prevent hemorrhagic complications or organ failure. The distribution of the virus shows critical hotspots in several provinces. The Central Pacific region leads the records with the highest incidence rate in Costa Rican territory, reaching 470.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. However, the strongest territorial impact is concentrated in specific cantons. The canton of Orotina, in the province of Alajuela, reports a critical epidemiological level with a rate of 2,418.1 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, resulting from 615 cumulative infections in a small population. The surge in Costa Rica coincides with the continental warning issued by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), an entity that maintains epidemiological alerts due to a historic proliferation of the disease in Latin America. Evolution of weekly dengue infections in Costa Rica through week 43. The country accumulated more than 7,000 infections in 2026, representing a 38% increase compared to the same period of the previous year (Courtesy: Ministry of Health). International health organizations explain that the sustained rise in the region is due to a combination of environmental and structural factors. Among them, the following stand out: - The global increase in average temperatures - Alterations in rainfall patterns resulting from the El Niño weather phenomenon - Climate change These elements accelerate the mosquito's biological cycle and expand its geographic breeding areas into zones where there was previously no continuous transmission. To these climatic causes are added disordered urbanization, failures in local drinking water distribution systems, and the simultaneous circulation of multiple serotypes of the pathogen. The characteristic clinical picture of dengue usually manifests after an incubation period of four to ten days following the insect's bite. Common symptoms include sudden high fever, muscle and joint pain, intense headache, discomfort behind the eyeballs, nausea, vomiting, and skin rashes. Most patients overcome this initial phase after a week of rest and adequate hydration. However, the Ministry of Health warns of the need to watch for the appearance of warning signs when the fever begins to subside. The presence of severe and persistent abdominal pain, persistent vomiting, bleeding from the gums or nose, drowsiness, extreme fatigue, and fluid accumulation in body cavities indicates a possible progression toward severe dengue or hemorrhagic shock. A metal bucket and a tire with accumulated water facilitate the reproduction of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. (Illustrative image Infobae) The eradication of breeding sites inside and around homes constitutes the most effective measure to break the vector's reproductive cycle. Because the female mosquito lays her eggs in clean, stagnant water, official recommendations call for emptying, scrubbing, and covering useful containers such as tanks, buckets, barrels, and flower vases. To reduce exposure to bites, experts recommend installing metal or plastic screens on doors and windows, using mosquito nets on beds, and applying repellent to exposed skin, especially during the early morning hours and at dusk, when the insect exhibits its greatest biological activity.