title: The first case of the 2015 Korean Middle East Respiratory Syndrome outbreak.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study reviewed problems in the prevention of outbreak and spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and aimed to provide assistance in establishing policies to prevent and manage future outbreaks of novel infectious diseases of foreign origin via in-depth epidemiological investigation of the patient who initiated the MERS outbreak in Korea, 2015.
  
  
  METHODS
  Personal and phone interviews were conducted with the patient and his guardians, and his activities in Saudi Arabia were investigated with the help of the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health. Clinical courses and test results were confirmed from the medical records.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patient visited 4 medical facilities and contacted 742 people between May 11, 2015, at symptom onset, and May 20, at admission to the National Medical Center; 28 people were infected and diagnosed with MERS thereafter.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Valuable lessons learned included: (1) epidemiological knowledge on the MERS transmission pattern and medical knowledge on its clinical course; (2) improvement of epidemiological investigative methods via closed-circuit television, global positioning system tracking, and review of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service records; (3) problems revealed in the existing preventive techniques, including early determination of the various people contacted; (4) experiences with preventive methods used for the first time in Korea, including cohort quarantine; (5) reconsideration of the management systems for infectious disease outbreaks across the country, such as this case, at the levels of central government, local government, and the public; (6) reconsideration of hospital infectious disease management systems, culture involving patient visitation, and emergency room environments.
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemic Intelligence Service, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Shik
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemic Intelligence Service, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Changhwan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemic Intelligence Service, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemic Intelligence Service, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Woo
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Division of Epidemic Intelligence Service, Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Cheongju, Korea.
authors.forename: Keon-Joo
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Division of Public Health and Hygiene, Seoul City Hall, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jungmo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: 3Department of Cancer Control and Policy, Graduate School of Cancer Science and Policy, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Moran
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ki
keywords: Epidemiologic studies; Korea; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome; Outbreaks; Transmission of infectious disease