Archive for May, 2009
Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
Costa Rica has found 11 new A/H1N1 flu cases, taking the total confirmed cases to 20, said Health Minister Maria Luisa Avila on Tuesday.
Tests were carried on 13 samples of possible cases and 11 of them were positive, Avila told Xinhua, adding that the results for the rest two cases would come out on Wednesday.
Avila said that among the confirmed cases there was a peasant from the Cartago province east of San Jose, who infected four members of his family, Avila said.
A girl from Heredia, some 15 km northeast of San Jose, also passed the virus to her brother, the minister added.
“We are investigating the transmission chain in these cases, because it seems they have not had contact with people from outside. But still we can not talk about an autochthonous transmission,” Avila said.
The other confirmed cases were in people who had contact with the youth Chorus from Boston, the United States.
Costa Rica has confirmed 20 cases of human flu, including one death.
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Wednesday, May 20th, 2009
Tired of the humdrum? Need to get away and relax? I have just the place for you. Costa Rica. Here are 10 terrific reasons to take a Costa Rica vacation.
1. You’ll find great airfares and travel bargains to Costa Rica right now.
2. There are 780 miles of pristine coastline with hundreds of great Costa Rica beaches. Uncrowded beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean coasts.
3. Like nature? Imagine a tiny little country with more species of butterflies than on the entire African continent and almost as many different species of birds as in the entire continent of Europe.
4. It boasts a park on its Osa Peninsula which National Geographic calls the most biologically intense place on the planet. In fact, tiny Costa Rica has nearly one-fifth of all the species of plants and animals in the world. Imagine that!
5. Costa Rica has more than 100 volcanoes, including some that still erupt and others where you can literally walk into. There is even one where on a clear day you will be able see the Pacific and the Atlantic oceans at the same time.
6. Thousands of Americans travel to Costa Rica for cosmetic surgery, dental, or other medical care because the quality of care is world-class but often only about a one-third of the price in the States.
7. Some folks come to take Spanish lessons in schools that also teach them how to surf! Or yoga. Or sexy Latin dancing. Or all of the above.
8. How about fantastic weather year-round? If you get too warm, drive a few miles into the lush mountains. Swim in warm waters every day of the year.
9. Like a good fish story? I do. This will not be the story about the one that got away. Bring your camera or video camera. You will have proof! You can fish every day of the year for an unimaginable variety of fish. The Caribbean is filled with huge tarpon. Sailfish and marlin (I hooked a 450 pound, 13 marlin recently) are common. Not to mention whales and sea turtles.
10. Costa Rica is just a short flight away”or take a cruise. Hop on a plane or luxury liner, leave your worries behind and prepare to meet some of the nicest folks anywhere. You will make new friends. Lots of them.
And, for being a good sport, I have your first Spanish lesson as a bonus. Remember the words Pura Vida! It means the great life and you will hear and use it every day.
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
A Cartago man and a 13 year old girl from Heredia are the first human-to-human transfer of the AH1N1 flu in Costa Rica, said yesterday the ministra de Salud, María Luisa Ávila.
Ávila explained that the virus is already circulating in the communities in Costa Rica, specifically in the family. “Autóctonos” is the word used by health officials to explain the cases of infection between Costa Ricans.
The earlier cases of the flu were all related, directly or indirectly, to contact with persons travelling from Mexico.
The ministra said that the man infected four others in his own family, while the Heredia girl was isolated when she began to show symptoms, but in any event infected another minor.
Ávila added that they are attempting to determine if a Guadalupe woman had come into contact with the Boston chorus who were in Costa Rica last month.
Since April 24, Costa Rican health officials have investigated 941 suspected cases, of which 9 were confirmed, 13 are still on the “probables” list, while the rest were discarded.
Health official records indicate that in 700 of the cases the results were negative, 76 had the regular flu, 28 did not meet the definition of a suspected case, one person dying.
Coronado Manuel Arévalo is the first and only recorded death from the AH1N1 flu. The 53 year old man had been hospitalized due to his pneumonia and diabetes,
Symptoms of the flu include a temperature of 38 Celsius, body and joing aches, runny nose, headache and cough.
The medical director of the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social (CCSS), Rosa Climent, explained that the majority of confirmed cases in the country had mild symptoms.
Health authorities insist on hygiene measures, such as hand washing and sneezing protocol.
“One of the important points is that the human influenza virus has, so far, a low mortality,” said ministra Ávila.
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
Costa Rica has been affected by the global economic downturn, but it has not been as badly hit as many other countries and its prospects remain attractive.
The country still remains popular for second home property investors, particularly those from the US. These investors are attracted by the low cost of living and attractive property taxes.
The country has successfully branded itself as a premiere eco-tourism destination and the tourism sector is expected to continue growing.
The local construction industry has fallen victim to the financial crisis but continues to grow, albeit at a much slower rate. In 2007, the industry experienced an incredible 18 percent growth but that reduced to a still impressive 5 percent for 2008. A recent article in Nuwire Investor confirmed that ‘long term prospects for Costa Rica remain attractive. The government is stable and has instituted good health care and educational systems.
‘The country is has a wealth of natural resources, from beautiful beaches to pristine jungles and volcanic mountains, that attract a wide range of travellers.
More importantly, it knows how to take care of its environment.
‘Costa Rica was ranked 5th in the world by the Environmental Performance Index developed by Yale University and Columbia University. No doubt tourism and related developments will continue to boom. To avoid being a victim of its own success, Costa Rica will need to perfect the fine art of balancing development against preservation in order to protect its eco-friendly brand.’
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
Officials from the National Police and Public Security Ministry confiscated 70 unregistered firearms and four toy guns from private security forces last week. The seizures were part of a three-day sting last Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
The police visited 53 businesses that employed private security guards. Officials found illegal guns at 26 of the 53 businesses.
Costa Rica law mandates private security providers to register with the Public Security Ministry and have weapons registered. To not do so is “not only illegal, but unsafe,” said Patricia Meléndez, a spokeswoman for the Public Security Ministry.
Officials confiscated the artificial firearms because they also lacked registration permits.
“We had to be sure. We had no idea they were toys when we took them,” Meléndez said.
While the use of un-inscribed toy artillery is not illegal, Meléndez said it is just bad business.
“These are security companies and their job is to provide security. They should offer an honest service.”
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Tuesday, May 19th, 2009
The principal and only client of the recently created regulatory agency overseeing the opening of Costa Rica’s telecommunications market finally agreed to turn over the fees had collected to keep the agency afloat, bringing to an end a battle that threatened to close the regulator.
It wasn’t until the Comptroller General’s Office intervened Thursday on behalf of the Superintendent of Telecommunications (SUTEL) that the Costa Rican Electrical Institute (ICE), formerly a monopoly, reluctantly gave SUTEL the approximately $920,000 it was owed since January.
The turmoil has cast a shadow on the newly opened market, which still has only one provider to monitor ICE. Meanwhile, at least 24 companies are interested in stepping into the market, which was just opened to competition at the beginning of the year.
On Saturday, the daily La Nación reported that SUTEL recommended that three companies be given permits to operate in Costa Rica.
While many have called some of ICE’s actions obstructive and claim they are trying to block out competitors, SUTEL has delayed taking direct action. Interested companies have been waiting five months, and even the three companies SUTEL recommended for approval may not be able to actually enter the market for another year, La Nación reported.
This is a learning curve, said Lynda Solar, the executive director of the Costa Rican-American Chamber of Commerce. It’s like SUTEL is starting at, well, zero, really.
The chamber released a statement condemning ICE’s reluctance to pay SUTEL on Friday, and said the government needed to take quick action to resolve the issue.
This is how it goes in Costa Rica, Solar said. Literally, you wait until the shoe drops off the foot and then react. It’s always reactive here, never proactive.
SUTEL was created as a regulator of the telecommunications market in January. As part of the Central American Free Trade Agreement with the United States, Costa Rica was forced to open certain markets to competition one of those being Internet and cell phone services.
SUTEL went from being a small division within the Public Services Regulatory Agency to becoming a much bigger, autonomous agency facing the gigantic task of opening up the market.
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Monday, May 18th, 2009
Costa Rican rescue crews were searching in the Pacific Ocean on Sunday for a missing University of South Florida student.
While visiting the city of Matapalo, Aly Lakdawala, 21, went swimming with other students amid riptide warnings Saturday afternoon, said USF spokesman Michael Hoad. Once they noticed waters getting rough, the group swam back to shore, Hoad said. That’s when it became clear that one person was missing.
Crews began a search for Lakdawala, who is from Coral Springs, Hoad said. His family was notified and has since left for Costa Rica.
USF Dean of International Studies Maria Crummett also left for Costa Rica on Sunday.
The group of 14 students and two USF staff members had been there for about a week, Hoad said. The alternative summer break program provides students the chance to travel while lending a helping hand.
In this case, the group worked with a turtle rescue farm. Students also usually teach English and offer other helpful services, Hoad said.
A senior international studies and philosophy major, Lakdawala was well-known on campus for his involvement in the program, Hoad said.
“It’s a fun trip and they’re doing great stuff,” he said. “That’s what’s so tragic about it.”
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Monday, May 18th, 2009
Many people who are experienced divers and snorkelers pick Costa Rica as one of the most important places for diving and snorkeling, because the beautiful Crystal Blue Ocean waters. The environment in Costa Rica for the first time the idea of snorkeling and diving in some of the best waters in the world.
Not only company regularly tours, weddings, but they also have special tours for those who spend a week diving at various beaches throughout the country. Many people who are new to scuba diving is recommended that a training and certification prior to their trip, because it may be expensive, if you come from a teacher there are standards and certification in the United States and the Caribbean.
It is easier to do, so you can be prepared and take with you. It is ideal for an experienced diver, when you visit places like Costa Rica, so you can use their own equipment since airlines usually allow divers to travel with their tanks and gear, depending on who is there, taking into account the additional weight on the flight.
They have for how long they want to go diving and usually the average times people on diving excursions around 10-14 days. Divers, depending on the tour with the company can be found on your journey and normally when you are in a group, it is much cheaper and more for your money if you are as a group. Prices for snorkeling, how much per day for a boat to get into the water.
The prices are the prices for the season which means they can cost more if you are in the season, and it is cheaper when you look at the low season. Normally SEASONS climax when the most expensive to travel to Costa Rica. It is cheaper to visit in the off season, there may be a good price for travel with flight and hotel since rates go in the off-season. It is ideal for your trips in advance, so if you have a good deal can be booked ahead of time about how you want.
Google may have a number of web sites for travel agents, package tours to scuba diving, so that people can make their holidays to their specific needs and budgets, because not everyone wants to develop, but I want to key and inexpensive. Everyone wants a good time, but also to make some money in the process of everything.
Planning the trip last dive with friends and family who are in the diving can be fun and time with loved ones and friends is what a vacation worth every penny spent. Investigate options for your vacation at the beginning ensures that you get what you pay in advance.
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Friday, May 15th, 2009
Costa Rica’s leading investor, Intel Corp., has been slapped with a $1.45 billion fine after the European Commission accused the semiconductor giant of engaging in illegal anti-competitive practices.
Though the controversy is being played out on European battlefields, some people are concerned about its effects on this small Central American country.
Roughly 36.7 percent of Costa Rica’s exports come from Intel’s 126-acre campus in Heredia, according to a 2006 report by the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency. After Intel established operations here in the late 1990s, Costa Rica saw 60 percent growth in gross domestic product (GDP). This growth was almost entirely tied to Intel, which employs approximately 3,000 Costa Ricans.
If this does not play out in Intel’s favor, I do think it might affect production here in Costa Rica, said Luis Mesalles, an economist at the Central American Academy. There is a possibility that it will impact our economy.
Intel was accused of bribing computer manufacturers with rebates if they bought all or almost all of their computer chips from Intel. This violates the European Commission Treaty antitrust rules.
The EC is also levying the fine because Intel allegedly paid computer manufactures not to launch products containing chips made by competitors.
Intel has harmed millions of European consumers by deliberately acting to keep competitors out of the market for computer chips for many years, alleged European Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, in a statement. Such a serious and sustained violation of the EU’s anti-trust rules cannot be tolerated.
Intel’s president and CEO, Paul Otellini, objected to the fine on the grounds that such practices are necessary in an industry dominated by only two companies.
We do not believe our practices violated European law, Otellini said in a statement.
The natural result of a competitive market with only two major suppliers is that when one company wins sales, the other does not.
Otellini, who claimed his company’s actions are not harming consumers, said his company plans to appeal the decision.
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Friday, May 15th, 2009
The Costa Rica based boxing/MMA promotion ‘FiteNite’ will present an evening of MMA and boxing called ‘HIGH IMPACT’ this Saturday night. We’ll supplement their already top notch broadcast team with LIVE round by round coverage here at THE SAVAGE SCIENCE.
You can catch all of the action LIVE via streaming video starting at 9 PM Eastern/6 PM Pacific Saturday, May 16th.
We’ve been following this promotion since before there was a SAVAGE SCIENCE, and their events are consistently entertaining in the ring and very professionally run outside. The quality of the local fighters from Costa Rica continues to improve by leaps and bounds every time out, and the promotion supplements the local talent with professionals from the US and elsewhere. Notables such as Jason Guida and reigning Sengoku middleweight champion Jorge Santiago have fought on their cards. Their events never fail to surpass our expectations–this is a promotion on the cusp of becoming the STRIKEFORCE of Central America.
This weekend’s card features kickboxing legend Rick Roufus in a MMA match against Panama’s Tomas Gomez plus a full slate of MMA and boxing competition.
All in all, its a great evening of fighting absolutely free. That’s a deal you can’t beat. So check it out, and if you like what you see drop the FiteNite people an email and let ‘em know! Also, tell ‘em you heard about their event here at THE SAVAGE SCIENCE
click here for more fight night info
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Friday, May 15th, 2009
Costa Rican president, Oscar Arias, and the president of the Banco Central, Francisco de Paula Gutiérrez, recognized yesterday that the country is in a recession.
Both, separately, confirmed the recession after two consecutive trimesters of negative economic growth. Gutiérrez added that the Gross National Production may even be lower than then 2.2% forecast by the central bank at the beginning of the year.
“If there are drecreases in two consecutive trimesters, then, we are in a recession, but we should be surprised. I always maintained that growth in 2009 could be possible be 0 or even be negative”, said Arias.
The president explained that the contraction in the economy has been in employment and could soon affect family income an poverty.
A number of Costa Rican economists agree with the statments of Arias and Gutiérrez, adding the importance of defining the state of the economy for the country to face the reality and take measures against the situation.
Costa Rica’s last recession was between 2000 and 2001. However, economists believe that this recession may be the worst faced by the country since 1982.
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Thursday, May 14th, 2009
WITH swine flu still spreading, the UN health agency is warning countries to confine the use of antiviral drugs to high-risk patients to ensure adequate supplies in case the virus should mutate and become more dangerous.
While the global outbreak appears mild, there is no consistent, collective response to it as an international community.
Not long after Switzerland lifted its advisory against travel to Mexico and the US on Tuesday, the Japanese national women’s soccer team cancelled a tour to North America, where most swine flu cases have been reported.
In Mexico’s Baja California state, on the US border, 5,689 children were turned away from schools when classes resumed because they had symptoms like runny noses, headaches or sore throats.
Three more nations – Cuba, Thailand and Finland – reported their first confirmed swine flu cases, all in people who had traveled to Mexico. (more…)
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
Costa Rica’s National Emergency Commission (CNE) issued a yellow alert for several towns on the central Caribbean Tuesday because of heavy rainfall.
The commission declared the alert for the cantons of Talamanca, Limón, Matina, Siquirres, Guácimo and Pococí, all in the province of Limón, and Sarapiquí in the province of Heredia.
Figi Frado, a spokesman for the CNE, said the yellow alert the second of three precautionary warning levels is a preventative alert, meaning that residents should take precautionary measures against the threats of flooding and landslides. Frado urged drivers to be careful when traveling on route 32 between San José and Limón, and to watch river levels closely.
More than 350 millimeters (13.7 inches) of rain fell in the province of Limón between Saturday morning and Tuesday morning the average amount for the entire month of May, according to the National Meteorology Institute. Meteorologists forecasted an additional 50-100 mm (1.9 3.9 inches) of rain for Tuesday night.
Frado said residents do not need to evacuate, adding that CNE will monitor roads and rivers and let citizens know if and when they should leave their homes.
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
Costa Rican health authorities reported yesterday that they have currently detected 840 possible cases of the A/H1N1 flu, while 736 of the them have already been ruled out after lab tests.
The rest of 94 possible cases are still waiting for the results of the lab tests. Most of these cases are from the central region of the country.
The country’s number of confirmed cases now stands at eight, while authorities have reported one death.
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Wednesday, May 13th, 2009
Malaria and dengue fever cases registered in the beginning of this year were significantly fewer than those registered during the same time period in 2008, the Health Ministry announced Tuesday.
Through May 3 of this year, the number of registered cases of malaria dropped 65 percent when compared with the same time period in 2008, the ministry said. Dengue numbers dropped nearly as drastically, seeing a 46 percent reduction.
Heightened preventive measures in the more at-risk regions of the country were described by the ministry as the reason for the halving of cases in only a year. Actions taken have included informative campaigns in affected regions to increase awareness on how best to combat the diseases.
The country is now seeing the benefits of the increased education in the countryside, and especially among rural farmers and banana workers, the ministry said.
The most affected areas for malaria were in the region around Limón, where 58 of the 78 malaria cases were registered. More than half of the 1,103 cases of dengue fever, on the other hand, were reported in the Central Pacific region, the ministry found.
Both diseases are spread by mosquitoes, although while malaria tends to be focused in rural regions, dengue fever is just as prominent in urban centers as in the countryside. The use of mosquito nets is seen as a key way of preventing the spread of the disease.
Dengue fever results in a severe headache, muscle and joint pains, fever and a bright red rash. It usually lasts about a week, though some rare complications result in death.
Malaria is characterized by fever, chills and nausea, and can result in a coma and death.
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