Two U.S. individuals who contracted Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) did not transmit the virus to members of their households or to health care workers, officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say.
Both patients with confirmed infections, one in Florida and another in Indiana, had traveled to Saudi Arabia before becoming ill.
Polymerase chain reaction assays and serology revealed no evidence of previous or active infection in any members of their households or healthcare workers who attended them.
In a press statement June 17, Dr. David Swerdlow, who is leading the agency’s MERS-CoV response, called the negative results among contacts that the CDC considered at highest risk for MERS-CoV infection "reassuring."
While the risk MERS-CoV infection in the United States remains low, Dr. Swerdlow added, "it is important that we remain vigilant and quickly identify and respond to any additional importations."