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Lessons to learn from MERS-CoV outbreak in South Korea

Adnan Khan1, Amber Farooqui, Yi Guan

  • 1International Institute of Infection and Immunity, University Health Network & Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, Guangdong, China. adnan1260@yahoo.com.

Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
|July 6, 2015
PubMed

Insights

The 2015 South Korean Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak highlights significant hospital-associated transmission. This event, involving three generations of spread, raises concerns about infection control and MERS diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health
  • Virology

Background:

  • Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) first identified in 2012.
  • MERS-CoV has caused 1289 human infections with a 40% mortality rate globally.
  • A significant hospital-associated outbreak occurred in South Korea in 2015.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the MERS-CoV outbreak in South Korea.
  • To investigate the characteristics of this large hospital-associated cluster.
  • To assess concerns regarding infection control and diagnosis during the outbreak.

Main Methods:

  • Case analysis of the South Korean MERS-CoV outbreak.
  • Tracking virus transmission chains.
  • Review of infection control and diagnostic timeliness.

Main Results:

  • The South Korean outbreak involved 126 cases and 13 deaths as of June 12, 2015.
  • It represents the largest cluster linked to a single introduction, spanning three transmission generations.
  • Healthcare workers, roommates, and caregivers were among those infected, indicating potential gaps in containment.

Conclusions:

  • The MERS-CoV outbreak demonstrated sustained human-to-human transmission within a healthcare setting.
  • Concerns were raised about the effectiveness of current infection control practices.
  • The need for timely diagnosis in managing MERS outbreaks was emphasized.

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