Costa Rica News – A large cause of illnesses in 2012 in Costa Rica was due to the mosquito Aedes aegypti, which spreads the virus that causes dengue fever.
Dengue fever begins with a sudden high fever, often as high as 104 – 105 degrees Fahrenheit, 4 to 7 days after the infection. A flat, red rash may appear over most of the body 2 – 5 days after the fever starts. A second rash, which looks like the measles, appears later in the disease. Infected people may have increased skin sensitivity and are very uncomfortable.
Physicians attended to 26,808 patients infected by dengue in health centers last year, according to the CCSS from data collected by the Ministry of Health. The actual number of cases was probably about 20% more than those reported.
The virus was found most in patients between 20 and 29 years old.
Hospitals treated 3,200 patients hospitalized for dengue, of which 67 had dengue hemorrhagic fever.
Limon was the most affected province. 50% of total dengue cases were reported there
The data were presented this morning by the technical team and the chief executive of the Social Security Fund (CCSS).
Throughout the year, the Ministry of Health promoted campaigns to collect tires and other waste in the provinces of Limon, Puntarenas and Guanacaste, among others.
