Tracing Airline Travelers for a Public Health Investigation: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Infection in the United States, 2014

Objective. CDC routinely conducts contact investigations involving travelers on commercial conveyances, such as aircrafts, cargo vessels, and cruise ships. Methods. The agency used established systems of communication and partnerships with other federal agencies to quickly provide accurate traveler...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public Health Reports 2016-07, Vol.131 (4), p.552-559
Main Authors: Regan, Joanna J., Jungerman, M. Robynne, Lippold, Susan A., Washburn, Faith, Roland, Efrosini, Objio, Tina, Schembri, Christopher, Gulati, Reena, Edelson, Paul J., Alvarado-Ramy, Francisco, Pesik, Nicki, Cohen, Nicole J.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Air Travel
Aircraft
Airlines
Bacterial infections
Cargo aircraft
Cargo ships
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
Commercial aircraft
Contact potentials
Contact Tracing - methods
Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology
Coronaviruses
Cruise ships
Disease
Disease prevention
Disease transmission
Government agencies
Humans
Infectious diseases
Measles
Middle East respiratory syndrome
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus - isolation & purification
Partnerships
Passengers
Public Health
PUBLIC HEALTH METHODOLOGY
Respiratory diseases
Respiratory distress syndrome
Ships
Travel medicine
Tuberculosis
United States - epidemiology
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Description
Summary:Objective. CDC routinely conducts contact investigations involving travelers on commercial conveyances, such as aircrafts, cargo vessels, and cruise ships. Methods. The agency used established systems of communication and partnerships with other federal agencies to quickly provide accurate traveler contact information to states and jurisdictions to alert contacts of potential exposure to two travelers with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) who had entered the United States on commercial flights in April and May 2014. Results. Applying the same process used to trace and notify travelers during routine investigations, such as those for tuberculosis or measles, CDC was able to notify most travelers of their potential exposure to MERS-CoV during the first few days of each investigation. Conclusion. To prevent the introduction and spread of newly emerging infectious diseases, travelers need to be located and contacted quickly.
ISSN:0033-3549
1468-2877
DOI:10.1177/0033354916662213