MERS-CoV Asymptomatic Cluster In Florence Italy
Recombinomics Commentary 23:00
June 3, 2013
There are
about ten, so far, the people tested positive for the New Sars but completely
asymptomatic. The samples, said today Professor Alessandro Bartoloni, head of
infectious diseases at the AOU Careggi, Florence, were sent to the Institute of
Health for confirmation. The positive test, by throat swab, having no symptom,
were not hospitalized and remain at home, obviously under observation.June 3, 2013
The above translation describes the detection of MERS-CoV in the contacts of the three symptomatic cases identified earlier. The index case (45M) returned to Italy from a 40 day trip to Jordan. A niece (2F) and co-worker (42F) developed symptoms and were MERS-CoV confirmed. However, the detection of the virus in 10 asymptomatic contacts is markedly different than reports reported for prior cases, who were symptomatic, as were confirmed contacts.
The results for family members in Jordan were negative, even though some had mild symptoms. The positive results in the asymptomatic cases in Florence (see map) suggested significant testing difference between the upper respiratory tract samples in Italy and those tested elsewhere.
