1 dies of Congo fever, 5 medical personnel quarantined in Namibia

One person has died of Congo fever in Namibia while four nurses and a doctor who attended to the patient are under observation.

The country's health ministry said Friday in a statement that the man aged 26 died on Feb. 22 after he had been admitted at Gobabis State Hospital about 200 kilometers from capital Windhoek.

According to the statement, the man was first treated and sent back home for tick bite that caused him to cough and feverish as well as causing diarrhea on Feb. 18.

Two days later, the ministry said, the man was brought back to the hospital and was at the time vomiting blood.

"The patient was treated for upper GI bleeding. The clinician suspected tick borne hemorrhagic fever. Blood specimen for yellow fever were taken and processed following universal precautions procedures," the statement said.

The man's body that was buried on the same day when he died was disinfected with hypochlorite and sealed in two body bags, the statement said.

After the man's death, the health ministry interviewed the family members and the man's employer to identify any possible causes.

"Four nurses and one doctor that were in close contact with without personal protective equipment have been quarantined and are being monitored," the statement said. Endit