In a follow-up on the mpox situation in Costa Rica this year, the Ministry of Health confirmed a third case of mpox in the country this year.
The patient is a 37-year-old man from the province of Heredia, who is in stable condition and is complying with the mandatory isolation order. During the epidemiological investigation, the patient indicated that he had not traveled outside the country in the last 30 days.
With this new case, Costa Rica has registered three confirmed cases of mpox so far in 2026. The first case is a 52-year-old man from the province of San José; the second is a 27-year-old man, also from that province, both of whom remain in stable condition. Epidemiological investigations determined that this third case is epidemiologically linked to the second confirmed case.
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Mpox is a viral disease that is mainly transmitted through close physical contact with an infected person, including skin-to-skin contact, contact with skin lesions, body fluids, respiratory secretions during prolonged contact, or through contaminated personal items.
To reduce the risk of transmission, the Ministry of Health recommends:
• Avoid close physical contact, including sexual contact, with people who have lesions consistent with the disease or who have a confirmed diagnosis.
• Do not share personal items, such as towels, bedding, or utensils, with sick people.
• Maintain good hand hygiene frequently.
People who develop skin lesions similar to pimples or blisters, accompanied by fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, muscle aches, or
general malaise, should promptly go to the nearest health facility for evaluation.