title: Contact investigation for imported case of Middle East respiratory syndrome, Germany.
abstract: On March 19, 2013, a patient from United Arab Emirates who had severe respiratory infection was transferred to a hospital in Germany, 11 days after symptom onset. Infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was suspected on March 21 and confirmed on March 23; the patient, who had contact with an ill camel shortly before symptom onset, died on March 26. A contact investigation was initiated to identify possible person-to-person transmission and assess infection control measures. Of 83 identified contacts, 81 were available for follow-up. Ten contacts experienced mild symptoms, but test results for respiratory and serum samples were negative for MERS-CoV. Serologic testing was done for 53 (75%) of 71 nonsymptomatic contacts; all results were negative. Among contacts, the use of FFP2/FFP3 face masks during aerosol exposure was more frequent after MERS-CoV infection was suspected than before. Infection control measures may have prevented nosocomial transmission of the virus.
authors.forename: Annicka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reuss
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Litterst
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drosten
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seilmaier
authors.forename: Merle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Böhmer
authors.forename: Petra
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Graf
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.forename: Clemens-Martin
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wendtner
authors.forename: Arina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zanuzdana
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schaade
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Udo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Buchholz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D002162:Camelus / Q000821:virology; D017934:Coronavirus; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology; D013577:Syndrome; D014479:United Arab Emirates
keywords: CoV; Germany; MERS; MERS-CoV; Middle East respiratory syndrome; United Arab Emirates; coronavirus; coronavirus infections; nCoV; respiratory infections; viruses