AGP Executive Report

Longevity: A new study suggests women in Sardinia’s Bolotana village may have exceptional odds of reaching 100. The report also names Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula among the world’s established “blue zones.” Food Safety: A report on the rare parasite Angiostrongylus costaricensis, discovered by Costa Rican scientists, describes how contaminated raw fruits and vegetables can spread infection—so thorough washing matters. Cancer Care: Costa Rica’s CCSS breast-cancer treatment waiting lists are being flagged as a serious risk, highlighting the importance of timely access to care.

Active Living: Costa Rican swimmer Emma Campbell, a nursing student from Liberia, qualified for the Oceanman World Final in the 10-kilometer open-water race. Food Safety: A personal account highlights Angiostrongylus costaricensis, a rare parasite linked to severe abdominal illness; contaminated produce can spread infection, underscoring the importance of washing fruits and vegetables well. Cancer Care: A report warns that CCSS waiting lists for breast cancer treatment can put patients at risk, renewing concern about delays in care.

Rare Parasite: A Costa Rica-linked intestinal parasite can cause severe abdominal pain and fever. The parasite can reach people through contaminated fruits and vegetables, making thorough washing important; the account also highlights how unfamiliarity with the illness can delay diagnosis. Cancer Care: A report warns that CCSS waiting lists for breast cancer treatment may put patients at risk, though it gives no figures on delays. Medical Devices: Biomerics’ Cartago operation has launched a digital system for production records, replacing lengthy paper files and aiming to reduce documentation errors in medical-device manufacturing.

Rural Food & Water: Costa Rican farmer Olga Vargas was named among the FAO’s 100 Women Heroes for combining family farming with water conservation and sharing practical know-how with other growers. Medical Technology: Biomerics’ Cartago operation has launched a digital system for medical-device production records, replacing lengthy paper documentation. Cancer Care: A report warns that CCSS waiting lists for breast cancer treatment can put patients at risk, underscoring the importance of timely care.

Cancer Care: Costa Rica’s CCSS breast-cancer treatment waiting lists are being flagged as a serious risk to patients, renewing concern over timely access to care. Health Workforce: A regional study is seeking nurses and medical professionals in 17 countries to share experiences of mental health and working conditions. Rural Health and Food: Southern Costa Rican farmer Olga Vargas was named among the FAO’s 100 Women Heroes for her work in food production, water conservation and supporting other growers. Medical Technology: Biomerics’ Cartago operation has moved to paperless production records for medical devices, aiming to cut documentation burdens and reduce errors.

Cancer Care: A report warns that Costa Rica’s CCSS waiting lists for breast cancer treatment can put patients at risk, renewing attention to delays in care. Health Workers: PAHO is surveying nurses and doctors in Costa Rica and 16 other countries about mental health, well-being and working conditions; the survey is open through Oct. 30. Rural Food Systems: Costa Rican farmer Olga Vargas was named one of FAO’s 100 Women Heroes for her work in farming, water conservation and supporting other growers.

Rural Food and Farming: Costa Rican farmer Olga Vargas was named among the FAO’s 100 Women Heroes for her work growing guavas and raising tilapia while conserving water and sharing skills with other growers. Health Workers: PAHO is surveying nurses and medical professionals in Costa Rica and 16 other countries about mental health and working conditions; the survey closes Oct. 30. Cancer Care: A report warns that CCSS waiting lists for breast cancer treatment may put patients at risk. Cybersecurity: Ransomware attacks targeting Costa Rica rose 39% to 32 recorded incidents, renewing concerns about risks to essential services, including healthcare. Prison Health: Costa Rica opened a high-security prison modeled on El Salvador’s CECOT, which has faced reports of medical neglect and other rights abuses.

Prison Health: Costa Rica opened a high-security prison designed for more than 5,000 people and modeled on El Salvador’s CECOT. Human rights concerns about that model include medical neglect and abuse. Cancer Care: A UCR specialist warned that CCSS delays threaten breast cancer patients: 42,000 women were waiting for ultrasounds as of March, with waits exceeding 300 days. The specialist cited research linking four-week treatment delays to an 8%–12% rise in mortality across several cancers. Health-System Security: Ransomware attacks targeting Costa Rica rose 39% in the past year, putting the country ninth worldwide. Earlier cyberattacks disrupted CCSS systems and hospital services. Climate and Health: Costa Rica was one of only five countries in a global assessment with targets to cut black carbon, a pollutant linked to serious health harms.

Medical Manufacturing: Biomerics has launched a paperless production system at its Costa Rica operations, replacing lengthy paper records with electronic device histories and built-in compliance checks. Cancer Care: Costa Rica’s CCSS had 42,000 women waiting for ultrasounds as of March, with waits exceeding 300 days. A University of Costa Rica specialist warned that delays in cancer treatment can raise mortality risk and called for faster diagnosis and care. Health and Climate: A new global scorecard found Costa Rica among five countries with targets to cut black carbon, a pollutant linked to serious health harms. Cybersecurity: Ransomware attacks in Costa Rica rose 39% to 32 recorded cases, Microsoft reported. Past attacks on the CCSS disrupted hospital systems and forced some facilities to rely on paper records.

Cancer Care: Costa Rica’s public health system had 42,000 women waiting for breast ultrasounds by March, with waits exceeding 300 days. A University of Costa Rica specialist warned that delays can undermine timely diagnosis and treatment. Health System Security: Ransomware attacks targeting Costa Rica rose 39% over the past year, Microsoft reports. Earlier cyberattacks disrupted CCSS hospitals, underscoring the risks to essential care. Climate and Health: Costa Rica is one of five countries whose climate plans set targets to reduce black carbon, a pollutant harmful to health and the climate. Marine Conservation: Researchers moved 2,700 corals into deeper, cooler water in the Gulf of Nicoya to protect them from El Niño-driven heat stress.

Cancer Care: Costa Rica’s CCSS had 42,000 women waiting for ultrasounds as of March, with delays exceeding 300 days, according to a University of Costa Rica specialist. He warned that treatment delays of four weeks are linked to an 8%–12% rise in mortality across several cancer types, underscoring the need to speed up diagnosis and care. Climate and Health: Costa Rica is among just five countries with targets to cut black carbon, a source of air pollution that harms health, according to a new global review of national climate plans. Festival Safety: Costa Rican Ismael Gerardo Méndez Huertas, 27, died after being found unconscious with severe breathing difficulties at Medellín’s Electric Daisy Carnival. Investigators have not announced a cause of death.

Climate and Health: Costa Rica is among five countries with targets to cut black carbon, a pollutant linked to air pollution and serious health harms, according to a new global scorecard. It says major high-emitting economies’ climate plans do not match health goals with sufficiently ambitious emissions cuts. Medical Testing: Laboratorio Echandi has received Costa Rica’s first accreditation for a specialized and study laboratory, according to a report published this week. Water and Wellness: Costa Rica’s first artificial beach, a 3.5-hectare lagoon near Liberia, uses groundwater from three concessioned wells. Its opening comes as Guanacaste braces for a severe El Niño dry season, raising questions about water use.

Festival Safety: Costa Rican Ismael Gerardo Méndez Huertas, 27, died after falling unconscious with severe breathing problems at Medellín’s Electric Daisy Carnival. Authorities have not released a cause of death. Water and Drought: A new artificial lagoon in Guanacaste will draw from approved wells as the region braces for a severe El Niño dry season. The developer says it meets Health Ministry water-quality rules, while its groundwater use draws attention amid growing water stress. Regional Emergency: Panama’s powerful earthquake injured at least 27 people and briefly prompted a tsunami threat assessment covering Costa Rica’s Pacific coast. The alert was later lifted; no tsunami threat remained. Longevity Research: A study of Sardinia’s Bolotana village found women who reach 70 are about three times as likely to live to 100 as women in the United States. Researchers say it may be a new Blue Zone, joining Costa Rica’s Nicoya Peninsula among longevity hotspots.

Emergency Response: A landslide blocked the only exit from a food market in Grecia, trapping 21 people. Red Cross and firefighters evacuated everyone; an 11-year-old girl was assessed but did not need hospital care. Water and Health: A new artificial beach in drought-prone Guanacaste uses groundwater from approved wells. Its opening comes as forecasters warn of a severe El Niño dry season, raising questions about water use; the developer says the lagoon meets Health Ministry quality rules. Regional Disaster Risk: Panama’s magnitude-7.7 earthquake injured at least 27 people and damaged homes, schools and health facilities. A tsunami threat assessment initially included Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, but the alert was later lifted. Medical Testing: Laboratorio Echandi has earned Costa Rica’s first accreditation for a specialized study laboratory, a milestone for the country’s diagnostic services.

Emergency Response: A landslide blocked the exit of a food market in Grecia, trapping 21 people. Red Cross and firefighters evacuated everyone; an 11-year-old girl was assessed but did not need hospital care. Water and Health: Guanacaste’s new artificial beach lagoon uses water from permitted wells as the region braces for a severe El Niño dry season, raising questions about water use during drought. Laboratory Standards: Laboratorio Echandi has become Costa Rica’s first specialized and study laboratory to receive accreditation. Environmental Health: A regional crackdown on illegal mining in Costa Rica seized 4.6 tonnes of cyanide and 11 containers of mercury, chemicals that can threaten water, wildlife and nearby communities.

Environmental Health: An Interpol operation across nine countries, including Costa Rica, led authorities to seize 4.6 tonnes of cyanide and 11 containers of mercury linked to illegal mining—chemicals that can contaminate water and harm nearby communities. Water Security: Costa Rica’s first artificial beach, in drought-prone Guanacaste, draws from concessioned wells as the region prepares for a severe El Niño dry season. The developer says the lagoon recirculates water and meets Health Ministry standards. Regional Emergency Response: A 7.7-magnitude earthquake in Panama injured at least 27 people and damaged hospitals, schools and roads; a tsunami alert that included Costa Rica was later lifted. Health Services: Costa Rica’s Red Cross is considering ending overnight shifts at 20 branches, a move that could affect access to emergency response. Laboratory Standards: Laboratorio Echandi has received Costa Rica’s first accreditation for a specialized and study laboratory, marking a milestone for the country’s testing sector.