Congo fever alert for hospital
2006-01-18 23:03
Charis Labuschagne
Bloemfontein - Several staff of Rosepark Hospital in Bloemfontein and a physician are being observed for Congo fever after a woman died of the virus.
Hospital spokesperson Esmarié Cronjé said the physician who treated the woman and the staff who came into contact with her, were being observed.
She did not know how many staff were being monitored, but nobody had been placed in isolation so far.
Mercia Erasmus, 51, of Petrusburg died of Congo fever on Sunday and blood tests confirmed on Tuesday that she had had the disease, said Cronjé.
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The virus is transmitted to humans by the bontlegged tick (Hyaloma) and people can infect one another through fresh, infected blood.
Erasmus's husband, Rassie, said on Wednesday that a tick bit his wife on their farm at Petrusburg. Six days later, she became feverish and started vomiting.
Department of health notified
The husband also is being monitored for Congo fever, but has not shown any symptoms yet.
Cronjé said Erasmus was admitted to Rosepark Hospital on January 9, but showed none of the flu-like symptoms of Congo fever initially.
She added the department of health had been notified on Tuesday of Erasmus's death.
Virologist Dominique Goedhals said the bontlegged tick was endemic to the Free State and usually was found on larger mammals such as cattle.
- Volksblad