Costa Rica Pre-Departure Health

In your passport, write the names of any people you wish to be contacted in case of a medical emergency and any allergies or medical conditions. Matching a prescription to a foreign equivalent is not always easy or safe, so if you take prescription drugs, consider carrying up-to-date prescriptions or a note from your doctor stating the medication’s trade name, manufacturer, chemical name, and dosage. Be sure to keep all medication with you in your carry-on luggage. For tips on packing a first-aid kit and other health essentials,

The names in Costa Rica for common drugs are: aspirina (aspirin), paracetamol (acetaminophen), and antihistimínico (antihistamine). Brand names like Tylenol®, Advil®, and Pepto Bismol® are also well known.

Travelers over two years old should make sure that the following vaccines are up to date: MMR (for measles, mumps, and rubella); DTaP or Td (for diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis); IPV (for polio); Hib (for haemophilus influenzae B); and HepB (for Hepatitis B). Adults traveling to the developing world on trips longer than four weeks should consider the following additional immunizations: Hepatitis A vaccine and/or immune globulin (IG), typhoid and cholera vaccines, particularly if traveling off the beaten path, as well as a rabies vaccine and yearly influenza vaccines. While yellow fever is only endemic to parts of South America and sub-Saharan Africa, many countries may deny entrance to travelers arriving from these zones without a certificate of vaccination. For recommendations on immunizations and prophylaxis, consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC; below) in the US or the equivalent in your home country and check with a doctor for guidance. Travelers heading to the provinces of Alajuela, Limón, Guanacaste, or Heredia should obtain malaria pills; begin taking them at least a week before departure. The CDC recommends chloroquine for Costa Rica. Insect protection measures, such as insect repellent and mosquito nets, are recommended against malaria and other insect-borne diseases like dengue fever (for which no vaccine currently exists).

Insurance

Travel insurance covers four basic areas: medical/health problems, property loss, trip cancellation/interruption, and emergency evacuation. Though regular insurance policies may well extend to travel-related accidents, you may consider purchasing separate travel insurance if the cost of potential trip cancellation, interruption, or emergency medical evacuation is greater than you can absorb. Prices for travel insurance purchased separately generally run about US$50 per week for full coverage, while trip cancellation/interruption may be purchased separately at a rate of US$3-5 per day, depending on length of stay.

Medical insurance (especially university policies) often covers costs incurred abroad; check with your provider. Homeowners’ insurance (or your family’s coverage) often covers theft during travel and loss of travel documents (passport, plane ticket, railpass, etc.) up to US$500.

ISIC and ITIC provide basic insurance to US cardholders, with US$100 per day of in-hospital care for up to 100 days and US$10,000 of accident-related medical reimbursement (see www.isicus.com for details). Cardholders have access to a 24hr. helpline for medical, legal, and financial emergencies overseas. American Express (☎+1-800-338-1670) grants cardholders automatic collision and theft car rental insurance on rentals made with the card.

Useful Organizations And Publications

The American Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC; ☎+1-877-FYI-TRIP; www.cdc.gov/travel) maintains an international travelers’ hotline and an informative website. Consult the appropriate government agency of your home country for consular information sheets on health, entry requirements, and other issues for various countries (see the listings in the box on Travel Advisories). For quick information on health and other travel warnings, call the Overseas Citizens Services (from overseas ☎+1-202-501-4444, from US 888-407-4747; line open M-F 8am-8pm EST), or contact a passport agency, embassy, or consulate abroad. For information on medical evacuation services and travel insurance firms, see the US government’s website at http://travel.state.gov/travel/abroad_health.html or the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office (www.fco.gov.uk). For general health information, contact the American Red Cross (☎+1-202-303-4498; www.redcross.org).