Response to Emergence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2013-2014.
In January 2013, several months after Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first identified in Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, began surveillance for MERS-CoV. We analyzed medical chart and laboratory data collected by the Health Authority-Abu Dhabi during January 2013-May 2014. Using real-time reverse transcription PCR, we tested respiratory tract samples for MERS-CoV and identified 65 case-patients. Of these patients, 23 (35%) were asymptomatic at the time of testing, and 4 (6%) showed positive test results for >3 weeks (1 had severe symptoms and 3 had mild symptoms). We also identified 6 clusters of MERS-CoV cases. This report highlights the potential for virus shedding by mildly ill and asymptomatic case-patients. These findings will be useful for MERS-CoV management and infection prevention strategies.
Farida Ismail
FI
Al Hosani
Kimberly
K
Pringle
Mariam
M
Al Mulla
Lindsay
L
Kim
Huong
H
Pham
Negar N
NN
Alami
Ahmed
A
Khudhair
Aron J
AJ
Hall
Bashir
B
Aden
Feda
F
El Saleh
Wafa
W
Al Dhaheri
Zyad
Z
Al Bandar
Sudhir
S
Bunga
Kheir
K
Abou Elkheir
Ying
Y
Tao
Jennifer C
JC
Hunter
Duc
D
Nguyen
Andrew
A
Turner
Krishna
K
Pradeep
Jurgen
J
Sasse
Stefan
S
Weber
Suxiang
S
Tong
Brett L
BL
Whitaker
Lia M
LM
Haynes
Aaron
A
Curns
Susan I
SI
Gerber
D000328:Adult; D021821:Communicable Diseases, Emerging; D018352:Coronavirus Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D065207:Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014479:United Arab Emirates / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
MERS-CoV; Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus; United Arab Emirates; asymptomatic infection; clusters; public health surveillance; respiratory disease; risk factors; viruses