Canadian is sixth recorded case of malaria in Costa Rica this year

December 2^nd, 2013 (InsideCostaRica.com) A Canadian citizen in Costa Rica is the sixth recorded case of malaria in Costa Rica this year, but authorities believe the patient acquired the disease while on a trip to Peru.

An investigation into the case has determined that the patient contracted the disease in Peru, according to Director of Health Surveillance, Mary Ethel Trejos.

According to Trejos, the patient had spent two weeks in Peru, followed by seven days in Panama, prior to arriving in Costa Rica.  Trejos explained that health authorities were able to determine that the disease was contracted while the patient was in Peru because of the incubation period of the parasite that causes the disease.

Trejos said the man is in Monteverde and in good health, and has informed health authorities in Peru and Canada of his condition.

Malaria is a mosquito-borne infectious disease, which in severe cases can progress to coma or death.

This is the sixth case of malaria reported in Costa Rica this year.  According to health authorities, most of the cases involved patients contracting the illness abroad.