JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- A South African man admitted to hospital five days ago for presumed infection of Congo Fever died on Monday, though the Health Department has yet confirmed the death, a local report has said.
Seven of his family and friends, including his wife and children, remain under observation at a quarantined hospital unit in Riversdale, Western Cape Province, the SAPA news agency reported.
All the health workers who had come into contact with the man were also being monitored, it said, quoting hospital sources.
The provincial health department declined to confirm the death.
The unnamed man, 46, was admitted to Groote Schuur hospital on October 5 after being diagnosed with the potentially deadly disease, which is uncommon in southern Africa.
His condition had deteriorated earlier on Monday.
Health official Keith Cloete said the normal transmission routefor Congo Fever was through tick-bites.
Humans could be infected either by being bitten directly, or bycoming into contact with infected cattle during slaughtering.
The latter one was the presumed source of infection of the man,a farm laborer who worked on a stock farm between Swellendam and Heidelberg, the SAPA said.
Cloete said the Health Department was working closely with the Southern Cape state veterinarian to raise farmers' awareness of the need to keep livestock tick-free.
People could also contract the disease by coming into contact with Congo Fever patients.
Information available on the South African government's websitewww.info.gov.za showed that the number of Congo Fever cases occurring annually in humans was "quite small" in South Africa, while animals were often affected.
"The tick-borne haemorrhagic fever can be fatal in humans but affects animals less severely," it said. Enditem
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