Costa Rica identifies malaria hotspots in mining and coffee sectors

The Costa Rican Ministry of Health has identified illegal mining in Crucitas, located in the Cutris district of San Carlos, as the primary focus for active malaria transmission in the country. This area accounts for 88% of local malaria cases. Unregulated mining activities in the Huetar Norte Region contribute to the continuous circulation of the parasite within informal camps, hindering national eradication efforts.

Environmental factors such as open-pit excavations, deforestation, and abandoned trenches create stagnant water pools that serve as breeding grounds for the Anopheles mosquito. Additionally, the lack of sanitation and precarious living conditions in these camps increase human exposure. Cross-border mobility between Costa Rica and Nicaragua further complicates medical tracking and diagnosis.

Separately, health authorities are monitoring the Ngäbe-Buglé indigenous population, who enter Costa Rica from Panama annually for seasonal coffee harvesting. Between 13,000 and 15,000 individuals participate in this labor cycle each year. The Ministry has identified parasitosis, respiratory illnesses, and skin lesions as the most common ailments among this group. Health officials are reinforcing sanitary protections at the southern border to provide medical attention, vaccinations, and deworming treatments to these workers.