The foreign affairs department is following up on reports that a 53-year-old South African man had died of an arenavirus while visiting Rio De Janeiro.

On Wednesday, Agence France-Presse reported the state health ministry as announcing that a South African man had succumbed to a hemmorrhagic disease on Tuesday after falling ill on 25 November, two days after arriving in Brazil to attend conferences.

"At this stage a post mortem is being conducted as to the cause of death. The South African government extends its deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased South African and will render the necessary consular assistance to the family at this time of mourning," a statement from the department of foreign affairs read.

The AFP report said the man displayed symptoms of fever, vomiting, blood in his urine and rashes. Doctors suspected he had contracted an arenavirus.

Arenavirus is a highly contagious group of viruses, typically spread to humans from proximity with rodents or through the body fluids of infected people.

Hospital staff who treated the man are being observed for any symptoms.

The man's body is expected to be sent back to South Africa in a sealed zinc casket, reported AFP.

Earlier this year, four people died in South Africa from a new type of arenavirus.

Sapa