THE Eastern Cape farmer who was positively diagnosed with the deadly and contagious Congo Fever died on Thursday night. The 51-year-old farmer, Francois Retief of Murraysburg in the Karoo, was described as very fit but in Port Elizabeth’s Provincial Hospital. Health authorities quarantined anyone, especially relatives, who had contact with Retief and they are monitored for possible symptoms. So far there has been none. In late 1996 there was an outbreak of Congo fever in the Oudtshoorn district in the Southern Cape, adjacent to the region where Retief had a farm.