Of all the aspects of the rapidly spreading Wuhan virus, this is perhaps the most alarming: A single patient has infected 14 health care workers. That's what's called a 'super spreader' -- and identifying them is a key element of fighting the virus.
Of all the alarming aspects of the rapidly spreading new virus out Wuhan, China, this is perhaps the most alarming: A single patient has infected 14 health care workers.
That's what's called a"super spreader," and disease detectives are hot on that patient's trail. It's one element to stopping the spread of this coronavirus that's killed 17 people and infected more than 500 in five different countries, including the United States. 'use strict';CNN.Videx=CNN.Videx || {};CNN.Videx.mobile={};CNN.INJECTOR.executeFeature.then {CNN.VideoPlayer.
CNN goes to ground zero of Wuhan coronavirus outbreak in China 02:45Super spreaders are a crucial part of a disease outbreak. Think about Mary Mallon, or "Typhoid Mary," who was responsible for widely spreading typhoid in New York City in the early 1900s. Or the Chinese doctor who in 2003 spread SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, to four different countries.
In 2015, there were five super-spreading events of MERS at hospitals in South Korea. In one case, a single patient spread the infection to 82 other people. The ramifications were huge. Two South Korean hospitals closed down, nearly 17,000 people had to be quarantined, and the economic loss was estimated at 9.3 trillion Korean won, or $8.5 billion. In all, 186 people became infected in the South Korea MERS outbreak and 38 died, according to WHO. CNN's Steven Jian contributed to this story.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
China's Wuhan shuts down transport as global alarm mounts over virus spreadChina's Wuhan, the city believed to be the source of the coronavirus outbreak, is closing its transportation networks and advising citizens not to leave the city, state media reported
Read more »
Chinese virus-hit city of Wuhan closes transport networks: state mediaThe Chinese city of Wuhan, the source of an outbreak of a new flu-like virus, is...
Read more »
How the Wuhan virus could impact the economy, according to past outbreaks - Business InsiderThe Wuhan virus, which has infected over 400 people and killed 9 in China, is spreading around the world. A pandemic could affect many businesses.
Read more »
Football: Olympic qualifiers shifted out of Wuhan following virus fearsWuhan was supposed to host China, Taiwan, Thailand and Australia for the Group B qualifiers February 3-9, but they will now be held on the same dates in the eastern city of Nanjing.
Read more »
How dangerous is the Wuhan virus from China?Speaking with TRT World, Dr Onder Ergonul, a professor at Koc University’s School of Medicine, said the mortality rate of the new virus is nowhere near SARS or MERS, yet recommends caution.
Read more »
What We Know About the Wuhan VirusAlready in Asia and the U.S., health authorities expect that it will spread even further.
Read more »