The most dangerous organism in Costa Rica is probably not the one you are thinking of. Although in the past few years there have been regional warnings issued to eco-tourists about potential dangers related to sharks, caimans and jaguars, attacks by these species are infrequent, and they are not even close to being the most lethal. The most dangerous organism in Costa Rica is not even a vertebrate, but it kills approximately three quarters of a million humans each year. Mosquitoes are not only insidious pests; they are extremely harmful vectors of disease. From yellow fever to malaria and… Continue reading →
The most dangerous organism in Costa Rica is probably not the one you are thinking of. Although in the past few years there have been regional warnings issued to eco-tourists about potential dangers related to sharks, caimans and jaguars, attacks by these species are infrequent, and they are not even close to being the most lethal. The most dangerous organism in Costa Rica is not even a vertebrate, but it kills approximately three quarters of a million humans each year.
Mosquitoes are not only insidious pests; they are extremely harmful vectors of disease. From yellow fever to malaria and from chikungunya to dengue fever, mosquitoes infect hundreds of millions of people each year. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that malaria claims the life of an African child at the rate of one per minute. In Costa Rica, the Ministry of Public Health has been very active in terms of conducting mosquito control efforts; however, epidemiologists are aware that they are fighting a difficult battle.
Costa Rica seems to be a paradise for mosquitoes, a species that thrives on the rich biodiversity and vertebrate density of this country. They also seem to thrive on climate change; as reported by The Costa Rica Star at the end of last years dengue season:
Scientists and researchers believe that climate change and a mutation of the dengue mosquito is to blame for the global spread of this tropical infectious disease.
Dengue is just one potentially fatal disease spread by mosquitoes. Theres West Nile virus, tularemia, lymphatic filariasis, and these are just the ones that affect humans. These vectors are also a danger to livestock, and their exasperating presence is not limited to the tropics; the Mediterranean and other parts of Europe have also seen an increase in mosquito populations in recent years. Luckily for tourists and residents of Costa Rica, this country has one of the lowest mortality rates for vector-borne diseases in the tropics. Nonetheless, there is a serious concern over the continuous spread of mosquitoes across the country.