Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Superspreading Event Involving 81 Persons, Korea 2015

Abstract

Since the first imported case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection was reported on May 20, 2015 in Korea, there have been 186 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection with 36 fatalities. Ninety-seven percent (181/186) of the cases had exposure to the health care facilities. We are reporting a superspreading event that transmitted MERS-CoV to 81 persons at a hospital emergency room (ER) during the Korean outbreak in 2015. The index case was a 35-yr-old man who had vigorous coughing while staying at the ER for 58 hr. As in severe acute respiratory syndrome outbreaks, superspreading events can cause a large outbreak of MERS in healthcare facilities with severe consequences. All healthcare facilities should establish and implement infection prevention and control measure as well as triage policies and procedures for early detection and isolation of suspected MERS-CoV cases.

Analysis of intrapatient heterogeneity uncovers the microevolution of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

“…Patient 14 was a second-generation case who had been exposed to the index patient. Exposure to Patient 14 led to a second wave of the outbreak, resulting in a total of 81 third-generation infections (Oh et al 2015). Specimens from 20 of these third-generation cases were analyzed in this study (Supplemental Fig.…”

Outcome of strict implementation of infection prevention control measures during an outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome

“…Similar infections have been seen in other MERS outbreaks. 16 One of the secondary cases was exposed to a case of MERS while he was in the ER and developed symptoms after he was moved to a ward within the hospital. He was tested 7 times over 4 weeks to confirm MERS diagnosis.…”

Differential Cell Count and CRP Level in Blood as Predictors for Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infection in Acute Febrile Patients during Nosocomial Outbreak

“…The reported data suggest that MERS-CoV is most likely to be transmitted as healthcare-associated infections and poses a serious risk for nosocomial outbreak (123456). During the nosocomial outbreak of MERS, many patients were identified and quarantined by means of active surveillance.…”