A large family consisting of six adults and six children recently visited a bat cave in Costa Rica, but they came back with more than just souvenirs. The family, which spans three states—Georgia, Texas, and Washington—fell ill after their holiday.
On January 17, 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported several suspicious cases of histoplasmosis among the family members. They had previously explored the Benado Caves during their trip. Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection that typically affects the lungs.
The family, comprising 13 members who traveled between December 21 and 28, included six adults aged 42 to 49 and six children aged 8 to 16. Twelve of them were diagnosed with histoplasmosis after their cave visit.
Histoplasmosis is caused by the Histoplasma organism, which is commonly found in areas where soil has been contaminated with droppings from birds and bats. In this situation, the condition was often mistaken for something else. One adult required hospitalization due to an abnormal chest X-ray that raised concerns about lung cancer. Notably, all twelve members began experiencing symptoms 8 to 19 days after visiting the cave.
Symptoms included headaches, fever, muscle pain, respiratory issues, and gastrointestinal problems. Fortunately, they all made a full recovery after about 28 days.
In light of this outbreak, the CDC has alerted health departments to identify any additional cases and has worked with the US Embassy in Costa Rica to raise awareness about the risks associated with cave tours. Furthermore, a health warning was issued to inform the public about the potential risk of contracting histoplasmosis.
