Zika Virus: it is not a great concern, traveling and learning Spanish in Costa Rica.
03-11-2016
San Isidro de El General, Costa Rica.
Our group of students from Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon has been studying Spanish and living with local families for the past 7 weeks here at SEPA school in beautiful San Isidro de El General in Costa Rica, and greatly enjoying the unique experiences that can be had here. The Zika Virus has been in the news, but not a great concern. The government of Costa Rica has been very pro-active in dealing with the threat before it even reached the national borders. Schools have been notified on spreading the word, and health professionals are ready to respond quickly and decisively. The measures against the spread of Zika, a mosquito-borne disease, are essentially the same as for Dengue, Malaria and other serious illnesses, with which Costa Ricans already have ample experience responding to. So, we expect that this program should end well, with regards to this possible threat, and that others who are coming here may have the same assurance, as well, provided certain personal measures are taken, such as regular and generous application of repellent on exposed areas of the body, or using screens or netting in those places where insects may pose a particular problem. In other words, nothing new.
Eric Tschuy
Instructor and study abroad leader for 2016.
Mt Hood Community College