Response to Emergence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2013–2014
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus, Asymptomatic infection, Risk factors, MERS-CoV, United Arab Emirates, Public Health Surveillance
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 Al Hosani, Kimberly Pringle, Mariam Al Mulla, Lindsay Kim, Huong T. Pham, Negar N. Alami, Ahmed Khudhair, Aron J. Hall, Bashir Aden, Feda El Saleh, Wafa Al Dhaheri, Zyad Al Bandar, Sudhir Bunga, Kheir Abou Elkheir, Ying Tao, Jennifer C. Hunter, Duc T. Nguyen, Andrew Turner, Krishna Pradeep, Jurgen Sasse, Stefan Weber, Suxiang Tong, Brett L. Whitaker, Lia M Haynes, Aaron Curns, Susan I. Gerber
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Infectious and parasitic diseases, Medicine