Hepatitis A outbreak, Costa Rica
Should I be worried? · Pathogen library: hepatitis a · Costa Rica
| Official | Media, unverified | Reported this week | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deaths | — | 1 as of 13 Oct 2026 | — |
| Confirmed cases | — | 2,055 as of 13 Oct 2026 | — |
| Suspected cases | — | 23 as of 21 Sept 2026 | — |
Officially, the clearest current confirmation is a live CDC travel notice stating that Costa Rica has a hepatitis A outbreak and that most cases are in San José province. Media reporting, citing Costa Rica's Ministry of Health, adds that authorities have been investigating active clusters in Desamparados, Hatillo and Hospital in the capital area, with an earlier 14-case cluster in Aserrí and San Juan de Dios de Desamparados. Public-health advice emphasized handwashing, cleaning shared surfaces, safer food handling, and keeping symptomatic people away from food preparation. What remains contested is the size of the outbreak. Media reports do not agree: some cite 772 cases nationally in 2026, including 562 in San José province, while another later report cites 504 cases nationally and 1 death. In contrast, the ministry statement quoted by one outlet said officials had not disclosed how many cases were tied specifically to the current San José outbreaks. No WHO Disease Outbreak News item specific to Costa Rica was found in this session. What to watch next is whether Costa Rica's health ministry publishes a direct bulletin with a reconciled national and provincial case count, whether the San José-area clusters are epidemiologically linked, whether any food- or water-source contamination is confirmed, and whether vaccination or post-exposure prophylaxis is being used at scale around identified contacts.
Situation as of 13 Oct 2026
Official
A live CDC travel notice says there is an outbreak of hepatitis A in Costa Rica and that most cases are reported in San José province. As reported by local media, Costa Rica's Ministry of Health has been investigating active outbreaks in Desamparados, Hatillo and Hospital, and earlier reported 14 cases in Aserrí and San Juan de Dios de Desamparados; in that reporting, officials had not disclosed how many cases were linked to the currently investigated clusters.
Media, unverified
Media reports citing Costa Rican health authorities give higher totals but do not agree with one another. Several reports cite 772 hepatitis A cases nationally in 2026, including 562 in San José province. Another later report cites 504 national cases and 1 death. One outlet also reported a 14-case local cluster and possible water-system contamination.
Control measures
Reported measures include case finding, investigation of links between cases, handwashing guidance, cleaning and disinfection of bathrooms, sinks and frequently touched surfaces, washing food before eating or cooking, telling symptomatic people not to prepare food for others, avoiding sharing utensils and personal items, and advising people with symptoms to seek care. The CDC notice also stresses vaccination, food and water precautions, and hand hygiene for travelers.
Timeline
- · Local media reported that Costa Rica's Ministry of Health was investigating active hepatitis A outbreaks in Desamparados, Hatillo and Hospital in San José; the same report said authorities had earlier identified 14 cases in Aserrí and San Juan de Dios de Desamparados and had not disclosed how many cases were linked to the then-current outbreaks.
- · A CDC travel notice was being cited in media coverage confirming a hepatitis A outbreak in Costa Rica, with most cases in San José province.
- · Media reports citing the Ministry of Health said Costa Rica had recorded 772 hepatitis A cases in 2026, including 562 in San José province.
- · Another media report citing the Ministry of Health gave a lower national total of 504 cases and reported 1 death, underscoring unresolved discrepancies in publicly available counts.
Latest reports
- · observador.cr · Media, unverified
Hepatitis A leads infections in Costa Rica and raises concern - · globalriskatlas.com · Media, unverified
14 cases of Hepatitis A confirmed and contamination in... - · infobae.com · Media, unverified
Costa Rica investigates active Hepatitis A outbreaks in Desamparados, Hatillo and Hospital - · ua.news · Media, unverified
Costa Rica records 772 hepatitis A cases in 2026 - · dailymail.com · Media, unverified
Travel warning issued for popular holiday spot over ... - · globalriskatlas.com · Media, unverified
Confirmation of 14 cases of Hepatitis A and contamination ... - · riotimesonline.com · Media, unverified
Costa Rica's Hepatitis A Cases More Than Double - · ticotimes.net · Media, unverified
Costa Rica Investigates Hepatitis A Outbreaks in San José - · wwwnc.cdc.gov · Media, unverified
Hepatitis A in Costa Rica - Level 1 - · nacion.com · Media, unverified
[name] talks about the illness he suffers and its aftereffects: 'I got sick overnight' - · Bluesky · Media, unverified
Pennsylvania recorded 1,004 measles cases, making it the state with the largest U.S. - · teletica.com · Media, unverified
Cuide su hígado: tres factores que pueden ponerlo en riesgo