Health workers and a doctor at the Rose Park hospital in Bloemfontein are being monitored for symptoms of Congo fever after treating a Petrusburg woman who died of the virus, a local newspaper reported.
A specialist physician and personnel were placed under observation after test results on Tuesday confirmed that Congo fever was responsible for the death of Mercia Erasmus (51) on Sunday.
Hospital spokesperson Esmarie Cronje reportedly said no personnel are in isolation at this stage.
She said there is no danger to the public as the virus can only spread through contact with the fresh blood of an infected person.
The Free State department of health had been informed on Tuesday about the situation.
Erasmus was apparently bitten by a tick (Hyaloma marginata), the carrier of the virus, on December 30 last year on her farm near Petrusburg. Her husband is also under observation, but has not shown any symptoms yet.
Erasmus was admitted to hospital on Monday last week with severe vomiting. — Sapa