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Volume 21, Number 12—December 2015
Dispatch

Asymptomatic MERS-CoV Infection in Humans Possibly Linked to Infected Dromedaries Imported from Oman to United Arab Emirates, May 2015

Zulaikha M. Al Hammadi1, Daniel K.W. Chu1, Yassir M. Eltahir, Farida Al Hosani, Mariam Al Mulla, Wasim Tarnini, Aron J. Hall, Ranawaka A.P.M. Perera, Mohamed M. Abdelkhalek, J.S.M. Peiris, Salama S. Al MuhairiComments to Author , and Leo L.M. PoonComments to Author 
Author affiliations: Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (Z.M. Al Hammadi, Y.M. Eltahir, M.M. Abdelkhalek, S.S. Al Muhairi); The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China (D.K.W. Chu, R.A.P.M. Perera, J.S.M. Peiris, L.L.M. Poon); Department of Communicable Diseases, Public Health and Research, Health Authority Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi (F. Al Hosani, M. Al Mulla, W. Tarnini); Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (A.J. Hall)

Main Article

Table 1

A chronology of major events in a study of asymptomatic MERS-CoV infection in 2 humans after direct contact with infected dromedary camels imported from Oman to United Arab Emirates, May 2015*

Date, May 2015 Event
7
 Contact 1 transported 8 dromedaries from Oman to the United Arab Emirates border. Contact 2 had direct contact with the dromedaries during sampling procedures at the camel screening center at the border. All 8 dromedaries were quarantined until test results were available on May 10.
10
 All 8 dromedaries were found to be RT-PCR positive for MERS-CoV and were quarantined in a separate structure located at the same border location. Active surveillance of persons with direct or indirect contact with the infected dromedaries was initiated. A sputum sample was obtained from contact 1; it tested positive for MER-CoV by RT-PCR on 12 May, 2015.
12
 A sample obtained from contact 1 on May 10 tested positive for MERS-CoV by RT-PCR; contact 1 was hospitalized in a negative-pressure room.
13
 A follow-up sample was obtained from contact 1, and it tested positive for MERS by RT-PCR†
14
 A follow-up sample was obtained from contact 1, and it tested positive for MERS by RT-PCR. A nasal aspirate sample was obtained from contact 2; it tested positive for MERS by RT-PCR on May 17.† Samples were obtained from the infected dromedaries, and 5 were still MERS-CoV–positive by RT-PCR (Table 2).†
17
 A sample obtained from contact 2 on May 14 tested positive for MERS-CoV by RT-PCR.
18
 Contact 2 was admitted to a negative-pressure room in the same hospital as contact 1. Follow-up samples were obtained from contacts 1 and 2, and they tested negative for MERS-CoV by RT-PCR.
20
 A follow-up sample was obtained from contact 2, and it tested negative for MERS-CoV by RT-PCR.
21
 A follow-up sample was obtained from contact 2, and it tested negative for MERS-CoV by RT-PCR.
25
 Follow-up samples from the 5 dromedaries tested negative for MERS-CoV by RT-PCR. All dromedaries were released from quarantine.
End of month‡ Contacts 1 and 2 were released uneventfully from the hospital.

*Contacts 1 and 2, humans who had direct physical contact with infected dromedaries; MERS-CoV, Middle East respiratory syndrome; RT-PCR, reverse transcription PCR.
†Samples subjected to sequencing analyses.
‡Exact date unknown.

Main Article

1These first authors contributed equally to this article.

Page created: November 23, 2015
Page updated: November 23, 2015
Page reviewed: November 23, 2015
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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