TY - JOUR
T1 - The first clusters of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in Oman
T2 - Time to act
AU - Al Awaidy, Salah T.
AU - Al Maqbali, Ali Abdullah
AU - Omer, Iyad
AU - Al Mukhaini, Suad
AU - Al Risi, Mohammed Ali
AU - Al Maqbali, Majed Sultan
AU - Al Reesi, Ali
AU - Al Busaidi, Mujahid
AU - Al Hashmi, Fatma Hashim
AU - Al Maqbali, Talib Khamis
AU - Vaidya, Vidyanand
AU - Al Risi, Elham Said Ahmed
AU - Rashid, Ahmed Abdullah
AU - Al Beloshi, Maryam Abdullah Hassan
AU - Etemadi, Arash
AU - Khamis, Faryal
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors
PY - 2020/5
Y1 - 2020/5
N2 - Introduction: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), is an emerging infectious disease of growing global importance. This review describes the latest MERS-CoV clusters and the first cases of nosocomial transmission within health care facilities in Oman. We have highlighted lessons learned and proposed steps to prevent healthcare-associated infections. Methods: A descriptive analysis of MERS-CoV cases was conducted between January 23 and February 16, 2019. The data from officials and other published sources used. Results: Thirteen laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS-CoV were reported from three simultaneous clusters from two governorates without an epidemiological link between the clusters. Two clusters were reported from North Al Batinah Governorate, with nine cases (69%) and 1 cluster from South Ash Sharqiyah Governorate with four cases (31%). In total, four deaths were reported (case fatality rate 31%). Four cases (31%) reported were household contacts from the first cluster, 3 (23%) were nosocomial transmission in health care facilities (two for first and one from the second cluster) and 7 (54%) were community-acquired cases. Conclusions: The first local clusters of MERS-CoV reported with evidence suggestive of healthcare and household-associated transmission. Early diagnosis and strict implementation of infection control measures remain fundamental in preventing and managing MERS-CoV infection.
AB - Introduction: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), is an emerging infectious disease of growing global importance. This review describes the latest MERS-CoV clusters and the first cases of nosocomial transmission within health care facilities in Oman. We have highlighted lessons learned and proposed steps to prevent healthcare-associated infections. Methods: A descriptive analysis of MERS-CoV cases was conducted between January 23 and February 16, 2019. The data from officials and other published sources used. Results: Thirteen laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS-CoV were reported from three simultaneous clusters from two governorates without an epidemiological link between the clusters. Two clusters were reported from North Al Batinah Governorate, with nine cases (69%) and 1 cluster from South Ash Sharqiyah Governorate with four cases (31%). In total, four deaths were reported (case fatality rate 31%). Four cases (31%) reported were household contacts from the first cluster, 3 (23%) were nosocomial transmission in health care facilities (two for first and one from the second cluster) and 7 (54%) were community-acquired cases. Conclusions: The first local clusters of MERS-CoV reported with evidence suggestive of healthcare and household-associated transmission. Early diagnosis and strict implementation of infection control measures remain fundamental in preventing and managing MERS-CoV infection.
KW - Healthcare associated transmission
KW - Household-associated transmission
KW - Infection control
KW - MERS
KW - MERS-CoV
KW - Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus
KW - Nosocomial infection
KW - Oman
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jiph.2020.03.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jiph.2020.03.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 32307315
AN - SCOPUS:85083315916
SN - 1876-0341
VL - 13
SP - 679
EP - 686
JO - Journal of Infection and Public Health
JF - Journal of Infection and Public Health
IS - 5
ER -