title: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Myoung-don
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Pyoeng Gyun
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Choe
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hong Sang
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Wan Beom
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Min
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jinkyeong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Good Morning Hospital, Pyeongtaek, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang Kook
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Pyeongtaek St. Mary's Hospital, Pyeongtaek, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Sup
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Nam Joong
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D065207:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D058873:Pandemics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Coronavirus; Emergency Room; MERS; Prevention; Superspreading Event