Isolated case of Congo fever in Western Cape

"The woman is in isolation and there are no other cases of the fever at the clinic at this time," Mediclinic Vergelen regional marketing manager Nadia Padayachi said.

The 39-year-old contracted the fever from a multi-coloured tick. She was in a serious but stable condition after she was admitted to the hospital over a week ago.

People with Congo fever suffer from flu-like symptoms and haemorrhaging. According to the World Health Organisation Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever is primarily transmitted to people from ticks and livestock animals.

Human-to-human transmission can occur from close contact with the blood, secretions, organs, or other bodily fluids of infected persons. There is no vaccine available for either people or animals.

 Read: Congo Fever – The facts