Health risks
Argentina is a medium income nation with a developing economy. Although Buenos Aires has many four and five star hotels, the quality of tourist facilities in many towns outside the capital is not up to the same standards.
Crime: Petty crime in the larger cities, especially in the greater Buenos Aires area continues to be a problem for residents and visitors alike. Additionally, there are frequent instances of false taxicabs in which passengers have been robbed.
Medical Facilities:
Medical care in Buenos Aires is generally good but varies in quality outside the capital.
Arthropodborne diseases:
- Malaria (North western part of Argentina )
- Chagas Disease
Water- or foodborne diseases:
- Diarrhoae
- Hepatitis A
Other diseases:
- Hepatitis B
Vaccination recommendation:
General:
- Hepatitis A or Immune Globulin
- Hepatitis B or Immune Globulin
- Typhoid fever - if staying in remote areas
- Rabies - if exposed to wild or domestic animals
- A booster for tetanus/diphtheria - if not covered which indicates not vaccinated within th last 10 years.
Details:
CHOLERA: Immunisation is neither required nor recommended
DIPHTHERIA: We recommend the initial childhood series of vaccinations in the first five years of life, with booster doses at ages 11 years, 45 years, and 65 years. Travellers are recommended to have the vaccine 10 yearly esp. if travelling to developing countries, or where there may be a risk of contracting the disease.
HEPATITIS 'A': Immunisation is strongly recommended but not compulsory.
HEPATITIS 'B': Immunisation is strongly recommended for travellers who will be in the area for 1 month or more. Transmission of Hepatitis B is through sex or contact with contaminated blood, needles and syringes.
POLIO: Adults who are travelling to areas where poliomyelitis cases are occurring, or where the contracting the disease is possible, and who have received a primary series with either IPV or OPV should receive another dose of IPV before departure. For adults, available data do not indicate the need for more than a single lifetime booster dose with IPV.
RABIES": Immunisation is recommended for travellers who will be living in rural areas for 1 month or more.
TUBERCULOSIS (TB): Immunisation is not compulsory, and is not recommended for adults. Children should be immunised at any age. A skin test is available if immune status is in doubt.
TETANUS: We recommend the initial childhood series of vaccinations in the first five years of life, with booster doses at ages 11 years, 45 years, and 65 years. Travellers are recommended to have the vaccine 10 yearly esp. if travelling to developing countries, or where there may be a risk of contracting the disease.
TYPHOID FEVER: Immunisation is recommended for travel to rural areas for a month or more at a time.
YELLOW FEVER: Immunisation is not required for travel to this country alone.
Prevent illness by:
- Wash hands thoroughly with soap and water.
- Drink only water from cans or boiled water
- Avoid using ice or drinking untreated water
- Wash and/or peel all raw vegetables and fruits before eating.
- Use uncontaminated water to wash all food that is to be eaten raw.
- Avoid eating uncooked foods - Remember: boil it, cook it, peel it, or forget it;
- Avoid swimming in fresh water
- Traffic accidents are the most common cause of injuries so be careful
- Avoid travelling at night and use safety belts when available
- To prevent fungal and parasitic infections, keep feet clean and dry, and do not go barefoot.
- Use latex condoms for protection against sexually transmitted diseases
- Recommended malaria prophylactic:chloroquine in Jujuy and Salta provinces and Corrientes and Misiones provinces.
Compulsory vaccinations: none.
Recommended immunisations: *diphtheria, hepatitis A, *hepatitis B, *malaria, *TB, tetanus, *typhoid * recommended in some circumstances, travellers making 3 or more visits per year, stays of more than 3 months in a rural area, high-risk occupational groups & backpackers staying more than 1 month.
Malaria Risk:
Malaria Risk is low and confined to rural areas along the borders with Bolivia (lowlands of Salta & Jujuy provinces) and with Paraguay (lowlands of Misiones & Corrientes provinces). Rabies. Vivax malaria accounts for virtually 100% of cases.
There are five common medications for malaria prevention available in Australia and New Zealand. They are: chloroquine, doxycycline, malarone, mefloquine, paludrine. To determine the appropriate antimalarial, it is advised that the traveller discuss this with a Worldwise Travellers Health Specialist. None of the medicines are 100% effective against the disease at all times, and each has its own side effects. These need to be discussed with the intending traveller.
General Advice on Mosquito Prevention:
- Malaria is transmitted by mosquito bite, so recommend all travellers to the country to:
- cover exposed skin after dusk when they are at most risk for getting bitten
- use insect repellent with DEET in it.
- return before dusk from country areas where malarial mosquitoes are the most active
- sleep in screened room or use a bed net, remembering to tuck in the edges & spray inside.
- sleep in air conditioned rooms or rooms with fans. Vapour pads and smoke coils also help. Insect buzzers are useless.
Blood transfusion & tissue transplantation risk according to UK BTS:
- Malaria: Yes, The risk is small and is confined to rural areas
- All year in provinces of Salta Jujuy Misiones and Corrientes
- Maliaria Risk Category: C
- Trypanasoma Cruzi Risk: Yes
- Sub Saharan Africa: No
- West Nile Virus Risk: No
- Chikungunya Virus Risk: No
Yellow fever vaccination requirements and recommendations and malaria situation in Argentina
Food and Water Safety
HIV Risk
Check travelers health risks by CDC before, after and while traveling to Argentina and prevention before arrival at Argentina.