Travel Vaccines and Advice for Argentina

• Typhoid – Typhoid is a potentially serious bacterial infection caused by Salmonella Typhi. It spreads through contaminated food and water. To prevent it, practice good hygiene and consider vaccination when traveling to high-risk areas.
• Hepatitis A – Hepatitis A is an infectious liver disease caused by the hepatitis A virus, often spread through contaminated food or water, or via direct contact with someone infected. It leads to liver inflammation, potentially impairing its function, and manifests as symptoms like tiredness, stomach pain, nausea, and yellowing of the skin or eyes. The vaccine for hepatitis A offers robust protection against this virus. It is typically given in two doses over a six-month period and is advised for those traveling to regions with higher risk or for people more likely to come into contact with the virus.
• Yellow Fever – Yellow fever, a virus transmitted by mosquitoes, can cause serious illness. Protection is essential, and the yellow fever vaccine is the key. This highly effective vaccine, administered before travel to at-risk areas, grants long-lasting immunity, helping to halt the virus’s spread and safeguard travelers from infection.
• Chikungunya – Chikungunya, spread by infected mosquitoes, can be prevented through mosquito bite prevention and vaccination. The chikungunya vaccine is considered the best form of protection.
• Rabies – Rabies, a deadly viral disease, spreads via bites or scratches from infected animals. Vaccination is the cornerstone of prevention, including post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) for suspected exposures and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for individuals with regular animal contact or travelers.
• Hepatitis B – Hepatitis B prevention relies on vaccination as the most effective measure, recommended for all travelers and critical for healthcare workers. Practicing safe sex and using sterile equipment for body modifications are also key in reducing transmission risks.
• Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) – Measles, mumps, and rubella are infectious diseases that can lead to severe health issues. They are transmitted through respiratory droplets and close contact. The MMR vaccine, a safe and effective immunization, is recommended by the CDC as the best way to prevent these diseases.

Yellow fever vaccination is recommended for travelers to Corrientes and Misiones provinces. It is only recommended for some individuals traveling to Chaco, Jujuy and Salta; based on where in the provinces they are going and what activities they are participating in. Vaccination is not recommended for travel to other regions in Argentina.

Mosquitoes, sand flies, and the triatomine bugs behind Chagas disease all bite in Argentina. Malaria risk exists in some northern border regions near Bolivia and Paraguay. A repellent with DEET or picaridin on exposed skin is your best everyday defense, and permethrin-treated clothing adds a layer that repellent alone doesn’t cover. Reapply repellent through the day, especially after sweating or swimming, and put it on after sunscreen rather than before.

Cover up at dusk and dawn, when sand flies and many mosquito species bite most. Long sleeves and pants matter here — sand flies are small enough to get through loose or thin fabric, so a tighter weave helps.

Triatomine bugs, sometimes called kissing bugs, tend to hide in the cracks of poorly built adobe or thatch structures and come out at night. Sleeping under a bed net or in a screened room cuts your risk, especially in rural areas.

If your itinerary includes a malaria-risk area, a Passport Health travel specialist can prescribe antimalarial medication based on where you’re headed. Bite prevention alone won’t protect you against malaria — the medication does the rest.

Per the CDC, travelers’ diarrhea is the food- and waterborne illness you’re most likely to contract in Argentina. There is a real risk of hepatitis A and typhoid fever — both preventable with a vaccine before you go.

Tap water in Buenos Aires and other major cities generally meets safe drinking standards, but that changes once you’re outside urban areas. Stick to bottled or boiled water in rural areas or after heavy rain, skip ice if you’re unsure how it was made, and avoid wading or swimming in water that could be contaminated with animal waste.

Food safety comes down to a simple habit: eat it hot, or skip it. Cooked meals served hot cut your risk far more than any other single precaution, and raw produce is only as safe as your ability to wash or peel it yourself. Street food is part of the experience in much of Argentina, from choripán stands to parrilla smoke, and freshly grilled meat served hot is a safer bet than food that’s been sitting out.

These habits lower your risk, but they don’t replace vaccination. A Passport Health travel specialist can confirm you’re up to date on hepatitis A and typhoid before your trip.

Altitude sickness, or acute mountain sickness (AMS), occurs when oxygen levels decrease at high elevations, leading to symptoms like headaches and nausea. Prevent AMS by ascending slowly, staying hydrated, and considering medications like acetazolamide. If symptoms persist or worsen, descend to lower altitudes and seek medical attention if needed.

• Chagas Disease – Triatomine bugs, sometimes called kissing bugs, spread this parasitic disease when their droppings get rubbed into a bite, a cut or the eyes. It’s a real risk in rural parts of Argentina, where these bugs hide in cracks in adobe or thatch walls and come out at night. A bed net or a screened room cuts your risk significantly.
• Dengue – This mosquito-borne virus is present throughout Argentina, and outbreaks tend to track with the warmer, wetter months. Symptoms range from a mild fever to severe joint and muscle pain. There’s no specific treatment beyond rest and fluids. Consistent repellent use through the day is the best prevention.
• Hantavirus – Rodent droppings, urine, and saliva carry this virus, and travelers are exposed by breathing in contaminated dust or handling infected rodents. Argentina falls within the range of the Andes virus, a South American strain that can also spread person-to-person in rare cases. Avoid rodent-infested buildings and store food in sealed containers when camping.
• Leishmaniasis – Sand fly bites spread this parasitic disease, which can cause skin sores or more serious internal illness. Sand flies are most active at dusk and dawn in forested or rural parts of Argentina. Permethrin-treated clothing and repellent during those hours are the most effective precautions.
• Leptospirosis – This bacterial infection spreads through contact with water, mud or soil contaminated by infected animal urine, including floodwater after heavy rain. It’s a documented risk in Argentina, particularly for anyone wading or swimming in freshwater lakes and rivers. Avoiding that kind of water contact, especially with open cuts, is the best way to stay protected.
• New World Screwworm – This infection happens when fly larvae burrow into open wounds or mucous membranes like the nose or mouth. It is most often found in people who spend time around livestock. Cleaning and covering any wound quickly lowers the risk substantially. Sleeping under a bed net or behind screened windows also helps, since the flies that cause it are most active at night.
• Tuberculosis (TB) – TB spreads through the air when someone with an active, contagious infection coughs, talks, or sings nearby. It’s a risk in any country, including Argentina, but casual contact and short trips carry relatively low risk for most travelers. Avoiding prolonged close contact with anyone visibly sick is the main precaution.
• Zika – Mosquitoes spread Zika, and it can also pass from a pregnant person to their unborn baby. It’s a particular concern for anyone pregnant or planning pregnancy. The CDC lists Zika as a risk in Argentina. Consistent mosquito bite prevention — repellent, covered skin, screened windows — is the only protection available.