Disease kills SA man in Rio

2008-12-03 19:31

Rio De Janeiro - Brazilian authorities were on Wednesday working to identify a mystery illness that killed a 53-year-old South African man visiting Rio de Janeiro.

Rio's state health ministry said the man, whose name was not given, succumbed to a hemorrhagic disease after falling ill on November 25, two days after arriving in Brazil.

He was taken to hospital with fever, vomiting, blood in his urine and rashes.

Doctors suspect he had contracted an arenavirus, a group of viruses that includes Lassa fever, an infection endemic to west Africa that typically spreads to humans from proximity to rodents.

Dengue, malaria and ebola had all been ruled out, the ministry said.

While tests were being carried out, hospital staff who had treated him were being observed to see if they showed any symptoms.

Officials said the Pan American Health Organisation had been informed of the case and the man's body would be sent back to South Africa in a sealed zinc casket.

- AFP