Whopping Cough Outbreak Near San Jose, Costa Rica

Since April 2024, the Ministry of Health (MOH) of the Republic of Costa Rica has reported an outbreak of Bordetella pertussis (whooping cough) in the Tibas district of San Jose, which has a population of over 70,000 residents.

As of June 2, 2025, the MOH remains on alert for whooping cough cases in local schools, which are primarily transmitted through respiratory droplets from coughing or sneezing, and have an incubation period ranging from 4 to 21 days.

On May 20, 2025, a case of whooping cough was confirmed in a teacher at a school in Golfito and a resident of the Corredores canton. There are now 14 confirmed cases in home isolation, in good general health, and receiving treatment and monitoring from the inter-institutional team.

Following the initial diagnosis, 79 direct contacts were identified, including 72 students, six teachers, and one cleaning staff member. Of these, 31 people presented symptoms.

The MOH recommends that the local population comply with the national vaccination schedule: the Pentavalent vaccine at 2, 4, 6, and 15 months, the Tetravalent vaccine at 4 years old, and the vaccine for pregnant women, indicated from the 20th week of pregnancy.

About 18 years ago, Costa Rico declared a whooping cough emergency and launched a nationwide vaccination program.

While the U.S. CDC advises individuals planning to visit Costa Rica in June 2025 to stay up to date with routine vaccinations, the agency also highlights the presence of Chikungunya and measles in Costa Rica.

These travel vaccines are commercially offered at clinics and pharmacies in the U.S. and should be administered about one month before departure abroad.