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We report a higher percentage of Sindbis virus-specific IgG in serum from patients attending a rheumatology clinic (18.8%) compared with healthy residents (9.6%) and patients with acute febrile illness (9.4%) in Free State Province, South Africa. Sindbis virus infection should be considered a potential cause of arthritis in South Africa.

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) causes severe disease with fatalities. Awareness of potential sources of infection is important to reduce risk to healthcare workers and contacts. We detected CCHFV RNA in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from a spontaneous abortion that were submitted for histology 9 weeks after a suspected CCHFV infection in the mother.

Crimean Congo hemorrhagic fever virus (CCHFV) is endemic in South Africa, but whether mild undiagnosed cases occur is unclear. In a seroepidemiologic survey, only 2 of 387 adults considered at risk because of occupational or recreational activities had evidence of previous infection. Seroprevalence in South Africa remains low within the groups investigated.