AN Eastern Cape farmer has been diagnosed with the deadly and contagious Congo Fever. An intensive program has been launched in the province to prevent the spread of the disease. The farmer, Francois Retief, 51, is in a critical condition and is being treated in strict isolation. He was initially admitted to hospital at Graaff-Reinet but subsequently transferred to Port Elizabeth. The Graaff-Reinet hospital was immediately placed under quarantine but the measures have since been relaxed. From Thusday, anyone who has had contact with Retief will be monitored. This includes medical personnel who treated him. Retief’s wife Dalena has joined him in quarantine because she wants to be near him while he fights for his life.