Temperate South America This section includes general information about health hazards as reported by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The region includes Argentina, Chile, Falkland Islands (Malvinas), and Uruguay. 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. The arthropod-borne diseases are relatively unimportant except for the widespread occurrence of American trypanosomiasis (Chagas' disease). Outbreaks of malaria occur in northwestern Argentina, and cutaneous leishmaniasis is also reported from the northeastern part of the country. Of the foodborne and waterborne diseases, gastroenteritis (mainly salmonellosis) is relatively common in Argentina, especially in suburban areas and among children under five years of age. 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. Taeniasis (tapeworm), typhoid fever, viral hepatitis, and echinococcosis (hydatid disease) are reported from the other countries. Anthrax is an occupational hazard in the three mainland countries. Meningococcal meningitis occurs in the form of epidemic outbreaks in Chile. Rodent-borne hantavirus pulmonary syndrome has been identified in the north-central and southwestern regions of Argentina and in Chile.