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Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Superspreading Event Involving 81 Persons, Korea 2015

Myoung-don Oh1, Pyoeng Gyun Choe1, Hong Sang Oh1

  • 1Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Journal of Korean Medical Science
|November 6, 2015
PubMed

Insights

A 2015 MERS-CoV outbreak in Korea involved 186 cases, with 97% linked to healthcare. A single emergency room event caused 81 infections, highlighting the need for strict infection control.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) outbreak in South Korea began in May 2015.
  • The outbreak resulted in 186 confirmed cases and 36 fatalities.
  • A significant majority of cases (97%) were associated with healthcare facility exposure.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report on a specific superspreading event of MERS-CoV.
  • To analyze the transmission dynamics within a hospital emergency room setting.
  • To emphasize the critical role of infection prevention in MERS-CoV outbreaks.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of MERS-CoV cases during the 2015 Korean outbreak.
  • Investigation of a superspreading event in a hospital emergency room.
  • Case-based epidemiological data review.

Main Results:

  • A single emergency room event transmitted MERS-CoV to 81 individuals.
  • The index case, a man with severe coughing, was present in the ER for 58 hours.
  • This event underscores the high transmission potential in healthcare settings.

Conclusions:

  • Superspreading events are a major driver of MERS-CoV outbreaks in healthcare facilities.
  • Effective infection prevention and control measures are crucial.
  • Triage policies for early detection and isolation of suspected MERS-CoV cases are essential for all healthcare facilities.
Keywords:
CoronavirusEmergency RoomMERSPreventionSuperspreading Event

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