The mainland ranges from the Mediterranean climate area of the western coastal strip over the Andes divide on to the steppes and desert of Patagonia in the south and to the prairies of the northeast. Outbreaks of malaria occur in northwestern Argentina, and cutaneous leishmaniasis is also reported from the northeastern part of the country. Cholera has been reported from Argentina and Chile. Typhoid fever is not very common in Argentina but hepatitis A and intestinal parasitosis are widespread, the latter especially in the coastal region. Anthrax is an occupational hazard in the three mainland countries.
Meningococcal meningitis occurs in the form of epidemic outbreaks in Chile.