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. 2016 Jul;22(7):1162-8.
doi: 10.3201/eid2207.160040.

Response to Emergence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2013-2014

Farida Ismail Al Hosani, Kimberly Pringle, Mariam Al Mulla, Lindsay Kim, Huong 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 Nguyen, Andrew Turner, Krishna Pradeep, Jurgen Sasse, Stefan Weber, Suxiang Tong, Brett L Whitaker, Lia M Haynes, Aaron Curns, Susan I Gerber

Response to Emergence of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2013-2014

Farida Ismail Al Hosani et al. Emerg Infect Dis. 2016 Jul.

Abstract

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.

Keywords: MERS-CoV; Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus; United Arab Emirates; asymptomatic infection; clusters; public health surveillance; respiratory disease; risk factors; viruses.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Epidemiologic curve showing confirmed cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, January 1, 2013–May 9, 2014 (N = 65). Most cases were reported during April 2014.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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