Central America

Costa Rica urged to expand prevention in the face of dengue fever rebound

Photo: EFE

November 6 |

The Costa Rican Ministry of Health warned on Saturday about the expansion of the dengue outbreak in the Central American nation, where 18,194 cases were reported as of October 21.

Through a press release, the ministry informed that this number of patients is triple compared to the same period in 2022, when the health authorities detected 6,097.

The report specified that the cases are concentrated in the Huetar Caribe region (5,218), followed by the Central North (4,110) and the Central Pacific (2,556).

Although cases are reported in other cantons of the country, the highest numbers of cases have been detected so far in Puntarenas (1,490), Sarapiquí (1,486), Pocococí (1,375), Alajuela (1,339), Siquirres (1,251) and San Carlos (1,144).

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According to the data, the 18,194 cases of dengue equals a rate of 345.7 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In the period analyzed, in 2022, the rate reached 116.9 per 100,000 inhabitants.

The portfolio considered that the high presence of dengue could be related to “the circulation of 3 or 4 serotypes, so it is of utmost importance not to lower our guard and to reinforce prevention measures,” the text says.

The health authorities urged the population to “clean and constantly check the containers in which water is stored for domestic use, check and clean canoes, as well as put unused tires under roof or take them to the respective collection sites”.

In addition, they asked the public to facilitate access to homes by health officials in charge of spraying against the dengue transmitting agent, the Aedes aegypti mosquito.

The previous alert on the outbreak of dengue fever in Costa Rica dates back to September 6, when the increase in the number of infections was close to 42 percent. Since then, the Ministry of Health has reiterated that it is essential to work on prevention to reduce the presence of the disease.

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Central America

Panama grants Martinelli 72-hour extension to travel to Nicaragua

On Monday (March 31, 2025), Panama extended the safe-conduct pass for former President Ricardo Martinelli by three more days to allow him to travel to Nicaragua, after the Central American country refused to receive him due to concerns over an alleged Interpol arrest warrant.

“The National Government has decided to extend the validity of the safe-conduct pass for an additional seventy-two (72) hours, until the end of Thursday, April 3, 2025,” the Panamanian Foreign Ministry stated in a communiqué. The original permit was set to expire Monday at midnight (05:00 GMT on Tuesday).

The Foreign Ministry explained that regarding the ‘humanitarian asylum’ granted to Martinelli last Thursday, which was set to expire Monday at midnight, the Nicaraguan government requested clarifications about an apparent Interpol alert, which had already been dismissed as inadmissible.

Additionally, the Panamanian Supreme Court of Justice, as the highest authority of the Judicial Branch, stated on Monday that it had “no objections” to granting asylum and a safe-conduct to Martinelli, as it falls under the jurisdiction of the Executive Branch.

Central America

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary urges Mexico to strengthen Guatemala border

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Monday that during last week’s meeting with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, she urged Mexico to reinforce its border with Guatemala and share biometric datawith U.S. authorities.

“I gave her a list of things that President Trump would love to see. And it was exceptional. It was supposed to be a half-hour meeting, but we talked for nearly two hours. It was very productive,” Noem said in an interview with Fox News.

The Homeland Security Secretary requested that Sheinbaum, who has already deployed 10,000 National Guard troopsalong Mexico’s northern border with the U.S., also secure Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala.

Noem added that she also asked the Mexican president to share biometric data with the U.S., to which Sheinbaum responded that she was “willing to discuss it,” although she acknowledged that it could be a controversial issue in her country.

Central America

Panama police clarifies that Interpol alert for Martinelli is still pending

Panama’s National Police clarified on Sunday that an Interpol alert request for former President Ricardo Martinelli (2009-2014) is still under review and has yet to be confirmed. Martinelli was granted a safe-conduct pass last Thursday to leave the Nicaraguan embassy, where he has been seeking asylum since February 2024 after being convicted of corruption.

“The National Police clarifies that there is currently an active process for an Interpol alert, requested by Judge Baloisa Marquínez, against former President Ricardo Martinelli. This request must be analyzed by Interpol’s General Secretariat (headquartered in France) for approval or rejection. If approved, it will be notified to member countries,” the police stated in a press release sent to EFE.

According to the statement, “at the moment, it remains an ongoing procedure, and former President Martinelli does not have a confirmed alert.”

The announcement came hours after National Police Director Jaime Fernández had told the press that an “Interpol alert” for Martinelli had been received on Friday.