Nosocomial MERS-CoV Infection: Evidence of Human-to-Human Transmission

Since September 2012, the novel Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) — has caused respiratory tract infections in several countries. Like the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) coronavirus, it has brought severe disease and death to many individuals, and it has been transmitted person-to-person in the healthcare setting. Now, investigators describe an outbreak of MERS-CoV infection that occurred between April 1 and May 23, 2013, involving four hospitals in Saudi Arabia.

Overall, 23 laboratory-confirmed and 11 probable (without laboratory confirmation) cases were identified. For the confirmed cases, the median incubation period was 5.2 days; 87% of patients had fever, and 89% had cough. As of June 12, 15 patients (65%…