MERS, SARS, and Ebola: The Role of Super-Spreaders in Infectious Disease

• Published in: Cell host & microbe Vol. 18; no. 4; pp. 398 - 401
• Main Authors: Wong, Gary, Liu, Wenjun, Liu, Yingxia, Zhou, Boping, Bi, Yuhai, Gao, George F.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 14.10.2015
• Subjects: Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology; Coronavirus Infections - transmission; Coronavirus Infections - virology; Disease Outbreaks; Disease Transmission, Infectious; Ebolavirus - physiology; Forum; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - epidemiology; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - transmission; Hemorrhagic Fever, Ebola - virology; Humans; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus - physiology; SARS Virus - physiology; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - epidemiology; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - transmission; Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome - virology
• ISSN: 1931-3128; 1934-6069
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2015.09.013

Super-spreading occurs when a single patient infects a disproportionate number of contacts. The 2015 MERS-CoV, 2003 SARS-CoV, and to a lesser extent 2014–15 Ebola virus outbreaks were driven by super-spreaders. We summarize documented super-spreading in these outbreaks, explore contributing factors, and suggest studies to better understand super-spreading. Super-spreading occurs when a single patient infects a disproportionate number of contacts. The 2015 MERS-CoV, 2003 SARS-CoV, and to a lesser extent 2014–15 Ebola virus outbreaks were driven by super-spreaders. We summarize documented super-spreading in these outbreaks, explore contributing factors, and suggest studies to better understand super-spreading.