I have been to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) website <BR> (www.cdc.gov) regarding health precautions they recommend when <BR> travelling to Central America (including Costa Rica). However, they <BR> do not differentiate their recommendations by country, only by <BR> region, and I have a feeling that given that Costa Rica's health <BR> system, education, etc. seem much more developed than other <BR> countries in Central America, some of the precautions they <BR> recommend for Central America generally may be less necessary in <BR> CR than in Honduras, Nicaragua, etc. Specifically, the CDC <BR> recommends getting vaccinated for typhoid and for hepatatis A <BR> when travelling to the region. My doctor advises following the <BR> CDC's recommendations absent any more specific information about <BR> the prevalence of these diseases in Costa Rica. However, these <BR> shots are not cheap! And it's hard to know whether they're really necessary. Can anyone out there <BR> (preferably a doctor or resident in CR) advise regarding the prevalence of typhoid and hepatitis A <BR> in CR? I am planning on taking the chloroquine prescribed by my doctor for malaria, as we will be <BR> travelling to the Osa Peninsula and Corcovado National Park, where I understand there may exist <BR> some (if minimal) risk of contracting malaria. Would appreciate any other advice about the <BR> advisability of the shots, as soon as possible, since one of the shots apparently takes a month to be <BR> effective so if I'm going to get it, I need to do it soon (we leave in mid-late November). Thanks <BR> very much.

Hi Lisa, we were in Costa Rica for three weeks, traveling everywhere and eating everything and drinking water from the tap and never encountered any problems what so ever. We also never took anything for malaria. They do have outbreaks of dengue fever and there is nothing that you can take for that. <BR>My sister was there for a month and took all the shots, plus chlorquine, because she was staying in the jungle for the most part, but three of the people that went with her took nothing and they never became ill. <BR>The Osa Peninsula is beautiful!!!! Have fun. <BR>

Lisa, we've been there 3 times - the first in '94 for 7 weeks. The organization that sent us (IESC) never mentioned taking any. We traveled to various parts of CR on week ends with no problem. Spent one week on our own, and 3 years later spent a 2 weeks on the Nicoya peninsula with no problems. I would think that, unless you were going to be really roughing it in the jungle, you should be ok. Have a wonderful time.

I think getting a Hep A shot is just good sense no matter where you travel..there is just as much of a problem in the US. You can go to your local health department...costs about $40 and requires a booster in 6 months. <BR>We feel it just makes good sense. Same with typhoid...if you are traveling out of the US.

Hi Lisa. First, let me say that I am not a doctor so my advise is based on my own travel experiences in developing countries. <BR> <BR>I would recommend the Hep A vaccine which will protect you on this and future trips. However, I am not a fan of Choloroquine. It is not effective on all strains of malaria and you have to take it for weeks after you return. You are better off taking other kinds of precautions to prevent malaria (mosquito repellant, mosquito nets & coils, long sleeves at dusk, etc.). <BR> <BR>And just to add to the other postings of healthy experiences . . . My very elderly parents, with compromised health, went to Costa Rica (including the Osa Penninsula and the national park you mentioned) and were perfectly fine without any shots or meds. <BR> <BR>Have a great time! <BR> <BR>

For another opinion, I agree with Harriet on the malaria medications. Last year my husband got dengue fever while on vacation. The doctors at home did not know what it was at first & before a positive diagnosis they wanted him to start a regime of anti-malaria meds. Well we did alot of research (well I did, he mostly had 106deg fever & the shakes)& there are just too many possible complications to taking any ofthose medications without absolutely having to. I found a doctor in Oregon on the Internet who had developed a new malaria test that was more definitive than what was available to us & was willing to do a blood test from a spot of blood I sent him on untreated paper. He agreed not to take the meds unless required. The test was negative for malaria. <BR>