BRASILIA, Dec. 7 (Xinhua) -- The death of a South African businessman in Rio de Janeiro was caused by spotted fever, Brazil's Ministry of Health said Sunday.

    "The investigation carried out throughout the week by our teams concluded that it is a spotted fever infection," said Eduardo Hage, an official of the ministry.

    The South African national named Williman Charles reported symptoms of spotted fever two days after arriving in Brazil on Nov. 23. The 53-year-old died on Dec. 2.

    "That means his infection started in his country of origin" in South Africa, Hage said.

    As spotted fever is transmitted only through the bite of ticks, "there is no risk of transmission from one person to another and therefore no risk of spreading to the population." the official added.

    Spotted fever is not a specific disease in Brazil. It occurs worldwide. From 1997 to 2008, 641 cases were reported in Brazil. The fatality rate is about 30 percent.