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. 2014 Apr;20(4):620-5.
doi: 10.3201/eid2004.131375.

Contact investigation for imported case of Middle East respiratory syndrome, Germany

Annicka Reuss, Annette Litterst, Christian Drosten, Michael Seilmaier, Merle Böhmer, Petra Graf, Hermann Gold, Clemens-Martin Wendtner, Arina Zanuzdana, Lars Schaade, Walter Haas, Udo Buchholz

Contact investigation for imported case of Middle East respiratory syndrome, Germany

Annicka Reuss et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Apr.

Abstract

On March 19, 2013, a patient from United Arab Emirates who had severe respiratory infection was transferred to a hospital in Germany, 11 days after symptom onset. Infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was suspected on March 21 and confirmed on March 23; the patient, who had contact with an ill camel shortly before symptom onset, died on March 26. A contact investigation was initiated to identify possible person-to-person transmission and assess infection control measures. Of 83 identified contacts, 81 were available for follow-up. Ten contacts experienced mild symptoms, but test results for respiratory and serum samples were negative for MERS-CoV. Serologic testing was done for 53 (75%) of 71 nonsymptomatic contacts; all results were negative. Among contacts, the use of FFP2/FFP3 face masks during aerosol exposure was more frequent after MERS-CoV infection was suspected than before. Infection control measures may have prevented nosocomial transmission of the virus.

Keywords: CoV; Germany; MERS; MERS-CoV; Middle East respiratory syndrome; United Arab Emirates; coronavirus; coronavirus infections; nCoV; respiratory infections; viruses.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Timeline for patient history and contact investigation in imported case of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), Germany, 2013.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Daily number of health care workers who had contact with a patient infected with Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus who was hospitalized in Germany, March 19–26, 2013.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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