Dengue in the Caribbean of Costa Rica

Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease caused by four related dengue viruses

Dengue can be transmitted through the bite of an infected mosquito, but it can also be spread from person to person. And it is a viral disease that causes fever and flu-like symptoms. It is caused by one of four related viruses found in tropical and subtropical climates around the world. This makes Costa Rica and specifically Limón and its Caribbean an area of ​​high impact. Our area such as Puerto Viejo, Cahuita among others, are high risk areas.

The illness usually lasts two to seven days and requires treatment with rest, fluids, and medications to relieve fever and pain. Some people have severe cases that last longer or may require hospitalization.

There are currently no licensed vaccines or antiviral drugs for dengue, but there are several promising vaccine candidates in clinical trials.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 50 million dengue infections occur worldwide each year. In 2009, approximately 390 million cases of dengue were reported worldwide, with more than half of them occurring in Southeast Asia.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne disease caused by one of four related dengue viruses (DENV 1-4). These viruses are transmitted through the bite of an infected Aedes mosquito. The most common is that it occurs during the hours of the day, when the mosquitoes are more active (from 10 to 16 hours). People who live in areas where the dengue virus is transmitted are at risk of contracting it if they are bitten by an infected mosquito, as is the case in Puerto Viejo, Cahuita, Sixaola and Limón, among others.

What tests help me diagnose dengue?

The dengue test analyzes the blood looking for signs of dengue infection and at Bioclinic Laboratory of Puerto Viejo, we carry out the test with:

Dengue Panel:

• Detection of IgM, IgG Antibodies
• Antigen detection

Viral fever panel:

• Detection of IgM, IgG Dengue, Zika and Chikungunya Antibodies
• Dengue antigen detection