Congo fever patient in ICU

A woman is being treated for Congo fever at a hospital in Western Cape.

Nadia Padayachi, marketing manager for MediClinic, said the 39-year-old was admitted to the Vergelegen clinic earlier this month.

"She is in a critical but stable condition. She is isolated in [the intensive care unit]."

Though she would not say where the woman contracted the illness, she did indicate that the woman was bitten by a tick.

The National Institute for Communicable Diseases website says the virus is transmitted by ticks.

Herders, farmers, abattoir workers, veterinarians and hunters are at highest risk of infection.

There is no vaccine.