American Expatriate Costa Rica

Cold days increase visits to health centers

The authorities of the Costa Rican Social Security Fund (CCSS) do not rule out an increase in the number of the consultations for flu and other respiratory diseases, due to the effect of the cold front.

We have had a decrease in the influx of patients but we are thinking about the numbers’ behaviors with this cold front. We had been in decline but now, these low temperatures could imply more patients,”

said María Eugenia Villalta, medical manager of the CCSS.

Villalta described the behavior of severe acute respiratory infections as “stable and controlled”. These diseases saturated medical centers such as Escalante Pradilla de Pérez Zeledón and Calderón Guardia during December.

The doctor added that viruses generate peaks throughout the year,

at the end of the year we had a peak, without a major outbreak. Curiously, the Calderón Guardia was the most saturated hospital,”

said the woman.

According to Villalta, the areas with most affected patients were San José, Puntarenas and Alajuela.

Remember to wear warm clothes and protect yourself from the viruses in the country. Effective and proven measures are:

Washing hands with soap and water frequently.
Covering your face with a tissue or your arm when sneezing or coughing.
Not visiting crowded places if you are sick.
Not exposing yourself to a sick person.
Strictly following these measures if you are a risk patient (diabetics, hypertensives, children under 3 years old, among others).

crhoy.com