Traveler's diarrhea

Travelers' diarrhea, can be caused by viruses, bacteria, or parasites, which arefound throughout the region and can contaminate food or water. Infections may cause diarrhea and vomiting (E. coli, Salmonella, cholera, and parasites), fever (typhoid fever and toxoplasmosis), or liver damage (hepatitis). Make sure your food and drinking water are safe. (See below.)

Malaria

Malaria is a preventable infection that can be fatal if left untreated. Prevent infection by taking prescription antimalaria drugs and protecting yourself against mosquito bites (see below). In Argentina, you are at risk for malaria only in northern rural areas bordering Bolivia and Paraguay. In Chile, the Falkland Islands, and Uruguay, there is no risk for malaria. Travelers to rural northern Argentina should take chloroquine to prevent malaria. For more detailed information about specific locations, see Malaria Information for Travelers to Temperate South America.

Yellow Fever

A certificate of yellow fever vaccination certificate is not required for entry into the countries in this region. For detailed information, see Yellow Fever Comprehensive Vaccination Requirements.

American trypanosomiasis (Chagas' disease) and leishmaniasis are diseases carried by insects that also occur in this region, but the risk to travelers is low. Protecting yourself against insect bites (see below) will help to prevent these diseases.

If you visit the Andes Mountains, ascend gradually to allow time for your body to adjust to the high altitude, which can cause insomnia, headaches, nausea, and altitude sickness. In addition, use sunblock rated at least 15 SPF, because the risk of sunburn is greater at high altitudes.

Because motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of injury among travelers, walk and drive defensively. Avoid nighttime travel if possible and always use seat belts.

Vaccine information

CDC-Recommended Vaccines (as Appropriate for Age and Area Visited):

See your doctor at least 4–6 weeks before your trip to allow time for shots to take effect.

• Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG).
• Rabies, if you might be exposed to wild or domestic animals through your work or recreation.
• Typhoid, particularly if you are visiting developing countries in this region.
• Yellow fever vaccination is recommended only if you are traveling outside urban areas in Argentina.
• As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria and measles. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for children ages 11–12 years who did not complete the series as infants.

Important precautions

All travelers should take the following precautions, no matter the destination:

To Stay Healthy, Do:

• Wash hands often with soap and water.
• Drink only bottled or boiled water, or carbonated (bubbly) drinks in cans or bottles. Avoid tap water, fountain drinks, and ice cubes. If this is not possible, make water safer by BOTH filtering through an "absolute 1-micron or less" filter AND adding iodine tablets to the filtered water. "Absolute 1-micron filters" are found in camping/outdoor supply stores.
• Eat only thoroughly cooked food or fruits and vegetables you have peeled yourself. Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it.
• Take your malaria prevention medication before, during, and after travel, as directed. (See your doctor for a prescription.)
• Protect yourself from insects by remaining in well-screened areas, using repellents (applied sparingly at 4-hour intervals) and permethrin-impregnated mosquito nets, and wearing long-sleeved shirts and long pants from dusk through dawn.
• To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot.
• Always use latex condoms to reduce the risk of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases.

To Avoid Getting Sick:

• Don’t eat food purchased from street vendors.
• Don’t drink beverages with ice.
• Don’t eat dairy products unless you know they have been pasteurized.
• Don’t share needles with anyone.
• Don’t handle animals (especially monkeys, dogs, and cats), to avoid bites and serious diseases (including rabies and plague).
• Don’t swim in fresh water. Salt water is usually safer.

What You Need To Bring with You:

• Long-sleeved shirt and long pants to wear whenever possible while outside, to prevent illnesses carried by insects (e.g., malaria, dengue, filariasis, leishmaniasis, and onchocerciasis).
• Insect repellent containing DEET (diethylmethyltoluamide), in 30%–35% strength for adults and 6%–10% for children. Unless you are staying in air-conditioned or well-screened housing, purchase a bed net impregnated with the insecticide permethrin. (Bed nets can be purchased in camping or military supply stores.)
• Over-the-counter antidiarrheal medicine to take if you have diarrhea.
• Iodine tablets and portable water filters to purify water if bottled water is not available. See Do’s above for more detailed information about water filters.
• Sunblock, sunglasses, hat.
• Prescription medications: make sure you have enough to last during your trip, as well as a copy of the prescription(s).

After you return home

If you have visited an area where there is risk for malaria, continue taking your malaria medication weekly for 4 weeks after you leave the area. If you become ill—even as long as a year after your trip—tell your doctor the areas you have visited.

For more information

Ask your doctor or check CDC web sites for more information about how to protect yourself against diseases that occur in Australia and the South Pacific, such as diseases:

Carried by Insects:

• Malaria

Carried in Food or Water:

• Cholera
• Escherichia coli diarrhea
• Hepatitis A
• Typhoid Fever

Person-to-Person Contact:

• Hepatitis B
• HIV / AIDS