Tweet
N Engl J Med. Family Cluster of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infections
[Source: The New England Journal of Medicine, full text: (LINK). Abstract, edited.]
-------
Original Article / Brief Report
Family Cluster of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infections
Ziad A. Memish, M.D., Alimuddin I. Zumla, M.D., Ph.D., Rafat F. Al-Hakeem, M.D., Abdullah A. Al-Rabeeah, M.D., and Gwen M. Stephens, M.D.
May 29, 2013DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1303729
Abstract
A human coronavirus, called the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), was first identified in September 2012 in samples obtained from a Saudi Arabian businessman who died from acute respiratory failure. Since then, 49 cases of infections caused by MERS-CoV (previously called a novel coronavirus) with 26 deaths have been reported to date. In this report, we describe a family case cluster of MERS-CoV infection, including the clinical presentation, treatment outcomes, and household relationships of three young men who became ill with MERS-CoV infection after the hospitalization of an elderly male relative, who died of the disease. Twenty-four other family members living in the same household and 124 attending staff members at the hospitals did not become ill. MERS-CoV infection may cause a spectrum of clinical illness. Although an animal reservoir is suspected, none has been discovered. Meanwhile, global concern rests on the ability of MERS-CoV to cause major illness in close contacts of patients.
-Family Cluster of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Infections
Ziad A. Memish, M.D., Alimuddin I. Zumla, M.D., Ph.D., Rafat F. Al-Hakeem, M.D., Abdullah A. Al-Rabeeah, M.D., and Gwen M. Stephens, M.D.
May 29, 2013DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1303729
Abstract
A human coronavirus, called the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), was first identified in September 2012 in samples obtained from a Saudi Arabian businessman who died from acute respiratory failure. Since then, 49 cases of infections caused by MERS-CoV (previously called a novel coronavirus) with 26 deaths have been reported to date. In this report, we describe a family case cluster of MERS-CoV infection, including the clinical presentation, treatment outcomes, and household relationships of three young men who became ill with MERS-CoV infection after the hospitalization of an elderly male relative, who died of the disease. Twenty-four other family members living in the same household and 124 attending staff members at the hospitals did not become ill. MERS-CoV infection may cause a spectrum of clinical illness. Although an animal reservoir is suspected, none has been discovered. Meanwhile, global concern rests on the ability of MERS-CoV to cause major illness in close contacts of patients.
-------