Large SARS-CoV-2 Outbreak Caused by Asymptomatic Traveler, China

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Sep;26(9):2260-2263. doi: 10.3201/eid2609.201798. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

Abstract

An asymptomatic person infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 returned to Heilongjiang Province, China, after international travel. The traveler's neighbor became infected and generated a cluster of >71 cases, including cases in 2 hospitals. Genome sequences of the virus were distinct from viral genomes previously circulating in China.

Keywords: COVID-19; China; Heilongjiang; SARS; SARS-CoV-2; asymptomatic transmission; coronavirus; coronavirus disease; respiratory infections; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; viruses; zoonoses.

Publication types

  • Letter

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Asymptomatic Infections / epidemiology
  • Betacoronavirus*
  • COVID-19
  • China / epidemiology
  • Communicable Diseases, Imported / epidemiology*
  • Communicable Diseases, Imported / transmission
  • Communicable Diseases, Imported / virology
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Travel