Do I need to get vaccinated against yellow fever?

Yellow fever is a potentially fatal disease transmitted by mosquito bites. Fortunately, the spread of this disease is limited to the area east of the Panama Canal, with the exception of Panama City and the San Blas Islands. Vaccination is only recommended if you are planning to visit this region or if you are potentially travelling on to a country with a corresponding entry regulation (such as Nicaragua, for example).

What other vaccinations are recommended?

Before any trip it is good to ensure that all of your basic immunizations are up-to-date. Additionally, we recommend vaccinations against Hepatitis A and B.

^{Panama and Costa Rica are known for its good surf spots, which are also suitable for beginners.}

Do I have to worry about Malaria?

Fortunately, Panama and Costa Rica have few cases of malaria. So you don't need to take anti-malarials with you in most cases (only in a few regions east of the Panama Canal is it advisable to take malaria medication with you for emergency treatment but this does not include the area around the Panama Canal or Panama City). However, you should still protect yourself against mosquitoes as malaria as well as other diseases can be transmitted by mosquito bites. These include dengue fever, chikungunya and Zika.

(As of November 2023)

How can I best protect myself against mosquitoes?

It is best to wear light-colored long-sleeved clothes impregnated with insecticide (Nobite®Textile). Repellents (Anti-Brumm®, at least 30% DEET) should be applied to the skin regularly and used after applying sunscreen. At night we recommend sleeping under (impregnated) mosquito nets and/or with the air conditioning running.

Do I have to worry about the food?

In general, Panama and Costa Rica have rather clean water and good food hygiene in tourist areas. Many hostel and hotel managers even claim that you can drink the tap water. However, we recommend being careful and only drinking filtered water and eating cooked, fried or peeled food ("cook it, boil it, peel it or leave it"). Typhoid fever, a serious food bourne disease, is extremely rare in Panama/Costa Rica, which is why the typhoid vaccine is not generally needed. The most common complaint from travelers is Traveler`s Diarrhea. If you experience Traveler`s Diarrhea, it is important to drink enough and eat salty food. Loperamide (Immodium) can be taken for short-term symptom relief. If you have diarrhea with fever, stomach or intestinal cramps or blood in the stool, seek immediate medical help.

^{Encounters with fascinating birds are not rare.}

Should I get vaccinated against rabies?

The WHO has not reported a case of this fatal disease in humans or dogs in either country. Wild animals and bats could be potential carriers of the disease, however, the risk is very small (wild animals are shy and bite extremely rarely). We therefore do not primarily recommend a vaccination against rabies. If your travel route goes further within Central America and/or to South America, vaccination may be considered. In case of scratch or bite injuries, the wound should be cleaned and disinfected immediately and thoroughly with plenty of soap and water for ten to fifteen minutes before going to hospital immediately and seeking advice from local medical staff.

It's not just about you.

Travelers are often responsible for spreading diseases. Good examples of this are the recurring measles outbreaks in Africa caused by European travelers or the Covid-19 pandemic.  So when you get vaccinated, you are not only protecting yourself but also the local population of your travel destination where the health system may not yet be so well developed and the population not sufficiently vaccinated. In certain countries there is also an increased risk of re-importing diseases that have been eradicated in the country, such as malaria in Sri Lanka, polio in many developing countries and yellow fever. You can do your part by getting vaccinated against the relevant diseases, taking precautions such as mosquito repellent or malaria prophylaxis depending on the country you are travelling to, and seeking medical care if you fall ill after returning home.

Summary: Relevance

Yellow Fever:      For the Darién Gap or to enter other countries

Malaria:                 Malaria rare but present

Dengue:                  High risk endemic

Food hygiene:        Relatively clean water / food poisoning less frequent

Rabies:                     Rabies only in wild animals

Safety:                     Moderately safe, safety index score 64 or 66