Temperate South America

Travel To Temperate South America

  • Argentina
  • Chile
  • Easter Island (Chile)
  • Falkland Islands
  • South Georgia
  • South Sandwich Islands
  • Uruguay

The overall risk for infections is low for most travellers to area. Gastrointestinal infections are a risk, especially in rural areas. Chronic and latent infections in immigrants (and long-term residents) include cysticercosis, Chagas' (from remote acquisition), echinococcosis, soil-associated fungal infections (see below), and intestinal helminth infections.

Vector-borne infections: Limited areas of malaria risk are found in Argentina. Dengue outbreaks have occurred in Argentina since 1997, and Aedes aegypti infests the country as far south as Buenos Aires. An outbreak occurred on Easter Island (Chile) in 2002. Other vector-borne infections include bartonellosis (limited to the slopes of the Andes in Chile), tick-borne relapsing fever (reported from northern Argentina and Chile), murine typhus, and spotted fever due to R. rickettsii (reported from Argentina). Leishmaniasis (both cutaneous and mucocutaneous) is endemic in northern Argentina and may be present in Uruguay. Programs to eradicate American trypanosomiasis (Chagas' disease) have reduced or interrupted active transmission in many areas.

Food- and water-borne infections: Risk of hepatitis A is moderate to high in parts of the region. Diarrhoea in travellers is caused by bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Typhoid fever outbreaks have occurred in Chile in the past, and sporadic infections occur in the region. Typhoid fever, amebic abscesses, and brucellosis can be acquired by travellers. Fascioliasis occurs sporadically, but travellers are at low risk.

Airborne and person-to-person transmission: The annual incidence of tuberculosis is estimated to be 10-50 per 100,000 population. Influenza outbreaks peak in May-August.

Sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections: The estimated prevalence of HIV infection in adults is low (0.1%-1%).

Zoonotic infections: Q fever

  • (airborne spread) is common in areas where livestock are raised; frequent outbreaks have been noted in Uruguay. Rabies is present in the region. Anthrax
  • is enzootic in Argentina. Sporadic cases of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (Andes virus; rodent reservoir host) have been reported from Argentina and Chile. Argentine haemorrhagic fever caused by Junin virus (rodent reservoir) is found in an agricultural area of Argentina. Risk to travellers is low.

    • Soil- and water-associated infections: Histoplasmosis is endemic in Uruguay and parts of Venezuela. Coccidioidomycosis is found in focal areas of Argentina and Chile; paracoccidioidomycosis is highly endemic in Uruguay and in parts of Argentina and sporadic elsewhere. Sporotrichosis is highly endemic in Uruguay and sporadic elsewhere. Hookworm infections are endemic in warm, wet areas but are rare in travellers. Leptospirosis

  • is a risk in warmer months.

    • Other hazards for travellers: Screening of blood prior to transfusion is inadequate in many hospitals.

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