We conducted a retrospective study of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) viral load kinetics using data from patients hospitalized with MERS-CoV infection between 19 May and 20 August 2015. Viral load trajectories were considered over the hospitalization period using 1714 viral load results measured in serial respiratory specimens of 185 patients. The viral load levels were significantly higher among nonsurvivors than among survivors (P = .003). Healthcare workers (P = .001) and nonspreaders (P < .001) had significantly lower viral loads. Viral RNA was present on the day of symptom onset and peaked 4-10 days after symptom onset.
Keywords: Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus; healthcare-associated infections; infectious disease transmission; viral load; virus shedding.
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, e-mail: [email protected].