Emerging Infectious Diseases (Apr 2014)

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

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2004.131375
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 20, no. 4
pp. 620 – 625

Abstract

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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.

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