On Wednesday afternoon, the Ministry of Health declared a health alert in the country due to the nine cases of malaria that have been registered throughout this year.
Therefore, we answer six questions about this disease.
1. What is malaria?
The mosquito “Anopheles” transmits a parasite called “Plasmodium” to people. When they are already infected they experience intermittent fever, chills, sweating and headache and muscular pain.
One of the main characteristics is that after a stage of discomfort, the person infected feels relief. However, hours or even 3 days later, they get worse again.
It is not transmitted from person to person, a mosquito bite is always necessary for trasmission. Unlike “Aedes Aegypti” – which transmits dengue, zika and chicungunya – the “Anopheles” needs dirty water to reproduce. Natural scenarios like rivers, ravines, ponds or stagnant and dirty water in tires and pots are their points of incubation.
Anopheles, which transmits the malaria parasite, only bites and infects in low and coastal territories, less than 500 meters above sea level.
The disease can become deadly, even more so than dengue, zika and chicungunya.
2. What is a health alert?
This means that the authorities suspect that a disease is a risk for the population. This is why orders are issued to reduce the risk of contagion.
First, the surveillance of possible cases is increased so that they are detected and treated on time, in order to avoid further infection. With this same objective, a directive establishes that the State must give treatment to people who suffer this type of diseases under the alert, regardless of their condition of insurance.
In addition, information and awareness campaigns are initiated. For example, the population is taught by different means how to prevent the contagion.
3. Why was the alert issued on Wednesday?
Since 2013, there were no cases of malaria in Costa Rica. However, the have nine autochthonous cases so far this year, that is, that the mosquito bite that transmits the disease occurred in the national territory.
The Ministry of Health explains that the high rate of migration between Costa Rica and Nicaragua could be the most important factor.
4. What role does migration play?
A person who was bitten in Nicaragua – where high rates of malaria infection are reported – may have crossed over to Costa Rica. Here another mosquito bit this person and the insect also acquired the parasite. This mosquito infects other people (the autochthonous case) and the cycle starts again.
So the person that is infected transmits the parasite to the mosquito.
Four of this year’s cases occurred in Matina de Limón, three in Sarapiquí de Heredia and two in Pital de San Carlos in Alajuela.
5. What to do to prevent infection?
Use repellents, mosquito net and clothing covering the exposed parts of the body. Also, throw stagnant water.
6. When should you go to the hospital?
The first thing to remember is the symptoms: intermittent fever, chills, sweating, headache and muscle pain. Also, remember that people believe they feel better and their health then falls again.
An important factor is that the risk increased if during the last 40 days the person with symptoms was in “malarious” areas, such as the coasts or low zones.
*This information was gathered through an interview to Daniel Salas, director ai of the Directorate of Health Surveillance.