Costa Rica Confirms Five Measles Cases Amid Americas Outbreak
COSTA RICA · HEALTH
Key Facts
- —What happened: Costa Rica confirmed five measles cases in 2026, all linked to travelers who caught the virus abroad.
- —How big: The Americas region logged more than 47,000 measles cases this year, the highest total since 2004.
- —What it means: That case count marks the worst measles resurgence anywhere in the Americas in 22 years.
- —The catch: Costa Rica’s five cases all stayed travel-linked, showing no confirmed local spread within the country.
- —Where: The five cases surfaced in provinces from Guanacaste in the northwest to Limón on the coast.
Health officials say the cases remain travel-linked even as the wider Americas region logs its worst measles year since 2004.
Costa Rica has confirmed five measles cases so far in 2026, health officials said this month. All five were linked to travel, with no signs of the virus spreading inside the country.
Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health says the numbers are small by international standards. Yet they arrive as the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) reports the region’s worst measles year in 22 years.
Where the Cases Appeared
The five confirmed cases surfaced in four provinces this year. They range from Guanacaste in the northwest to Limón on the Caribbean coast.
Earlier cases also appeared in Cartago and San José province. Each patient either traveled abroad recently or had close contact with a traveler.
Health workers confirmed the most recent case in Guanacaste province’s La Cruz canton in April 2026. The patient was a Guatemalan man who had traveled recently through Mexico.
Costa Rica’s health ministry ruled out 190 suspected measles cases so far this year. It kept more than 290 contacts of confirmed patients under medical watch.
Health Director Christian Valverde said the regional outbreak remains a warning sign. He said measles still threatens any country that lets vaccination rates slip.
Costa Rica has not recorded local measles transmission since 1999, health officials say. The country still relies on strong childhood vaccination programs to keep it that way.
A Region-Wide Surge
PAHO tracks measles cases across the Americas. It reported 47,459 confirmed cases and 44 deaths as of mid-July 2026.
That is more than three times the 15,011 cases recorded during all of 2025. PAHO called 2026 the region’s worst measles year since 2004, a 22-year high.
Guatemala alone reported 30,371 cases, or nearly two-thirds of the regional total. Mexico and three other countries share most of the remaining cases.
PAHO also rates the overall public health risk in the region as very high. It says weak vaccination coverage and high travel volumes both fuel the spread.
Only about a third of countries in the Americas meet PAHO’s recommended vaccination target. Health officials recommend two vaccine doses for at least 95% of children.
What Officials Advise
Costa Rica keeps more than 94% coverage for its two required measles vaccine doses. That is close to the 95% level that PAHO says stops the virus from spreading.
Health officials gave booster shots to more than 24,000 travelers headed to outbreak countries this year. They urge anyone visiting Guatemala, Mexico or the United States to confirm their vaccine status first.
The health ministry also flagged travel to World Cup host cities this year. Fans heading to games in the United States, Mexico or Canada should check their vaccine records first.
Health officials plan to keep tracking suspected cases through the rest of 2026. They say early detection remains the country’s best defense against wider spread.
More: Costa Rica news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many measles cases has Costa Rica confirmed in 2026?
Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health confirmed five measles cases in 2026. All were linked to travel, with no confirmed local spread.
Why is 2026 called the worst measles year in 22 years?
PAHO (the Pan American Health Organization) reported over 47,000 measles cases across the Americas by mid-2026. That is the highest count since 2004, according to PAHO’s own data.
Is it risky to travel to Costa Rica because of measles?
Costa Rica has not reported any local measles transmission this year. Health officials say the country’s vaccination coverage remains strong, above 94%.
Sources: Costa Rica Ministry of Health (Ministerio de Salud), Pan American Health Organization (PAHO/WHO), Infobae Costa Rica, La Nación (Costa Rica) and El Observador CR.
This article was drafted with automated assistance and reviewed before publication. How we use AI · Report an error
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