All in a Row: Rosemary Güendell yesterday led a group of children on a walk through INBioparque in Santo Domingo de Heredia, north of San José, to learn about Costa Rican nature. The park, run by the National Institute for Biodiversity (INBio), is offering children's workshops every day during the mid-term vacations, which continue through next week.

Tourism Minister Carlos Benavides this week praised a decision by Air Comet airlines to begin flying between San José and Madrid, Spain, as evidence that Costa Rica remains a “mature” and “trustworthy” tourist destination in which companies can invest.

Music at the Beach
Singer/songwriter Bob Benjamin Zúñiga performs tomorrow, 6 p.m., Best Western Tamarindo; tomorrow, 8 p.m., Upper Deck Sports Bar, Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste.

Clay Modeling
Workshop for children ages 4-7, 10 a.m.-noon, Museum of Forms, Spaces and Sounds, San José, Ave. 3, Calle 21. Info: 256-1281. 

Sasha Campbell Performs
Soul and acoustic jazz, 8 p.m., free entrance, Sebastian, Escazú.

By Dave Sherwood
Tico Times Staff | dsherwood@ticotimes.net

Dengue fever is running rampant in Costa Rica, prompting a coordinated effort by the Ministry of Public Health and other government agencies to calm the onslaught.

During the first six months of the year, Health Ministry statistics indicate there have been 6,870 cases of patients with dengue countrywide, exactly double the 3,435 cases reported during the same period last year.

The epidemic, which raged in 2005, resulting in over 37,000 people infected (TT, Aug. 6, 2005), settled down to a more manageable level in 2006 but seems to be swelling again this year.

According to Dr. Henry Wasserman, of the Health Ministry, the virus came on strong in the northwestern Guanacaste province early in the year, but has since settled to normal levels there. Limón, in the Caribbean, is now the most seriously affected province, with 856 confirmed cases thus far this year.

Doctors at Limón's Tony Facio Hospital report that more than 40 beds are occupied by dengue patients, putting excessive pressure on the hospital's resources and ability to handle patients with other ailments.

To date, 70 people have been infected with the more serious hemorrhagic dengue, which can result in death. Investigations are ongoing, but the Health Ministry suspects three people have died after being inflicted with the more serious dengue this year.

Strong rains bathing the Northern Zone have led the National Emergency Commission (CNE) to declare a green, preventive alert for some cantons in this area, where about 30 people were forced to abandon their homes to seek shelter from flooding Tuesday night, according to a statement posted on the commission's Web site.

The alert applies to the cantons of Upala, Los Chiles, Guatuso and San Carlos.

Emergency workers are monitoring water levels in these areas, especially near the community of Santa Clara, where the Niño and Guacalito Rivers flooded about 60 homes, the statement said. They're also waiting for water levels to go down to assess damage to the Cabezas bridge, which is “on the verge of collapsing,” the statement said.

The commission will maintain the green alert as long as heavy rains put residents at risk and is also keeping its eye on the Caribbean coast, where heavy rains are setting in.

-Tico Times

Tourism Minister Carlos Benavides this week praised a decision by Air Comet airlines to begin flying between San José and Madrid, Spain, as evidence that Costa Rica remains a “mature” and “trustworthy” tourist destination in which companies can invest.

The airline Monday began offering three flights weekly between Madrid and San José. This means new options for Europeans who want to visit Costa Rica; the airline is offering connecting flights to Costa Rica from London, Paris and Rome, according to a statement from the Costa Rican Tourism Institute (ICT).

An airbus A-330 plane with capacity for 298 passengers will service the San José-Madrid route.

Benavides said ICT and Air Comet are working on developing strategies to market these flights, such as offering promotional trips for travel agents and journalists and contacting online travel sites.