An Analysis of Actual Conditions with the Infectious Disease of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) Spreading in South Korea

Background/Objectives: The purpose of this study was to identify problems with infectious diseases on the basis of the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona virus (MERS-CoV). Methods/Statistical Analysis: For this purpose, the data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Ministry of Health and Welfare (MOHW) were coded on the basis of daily briefing. A total of 186 persons were diagnosed with MERS. The duration of MERS outbreak in South Korea was from May 20, 2015 to July 28, 2015, when the cessation of the disease was first announced. Analysis was performed using SPSS for Windows 12.0 Version. Findings: Of the 186 persons diagnosed with MERS, 36 died, 12 were under treatment, and 138 leave hospital. There were 5 super-spreaders: the index case #1, #14, #15, #16, and #76. The five super-spreaders made more than a half of all the MERS patients infected with the disease. An infectious disease can mean a medical disaster. To prevent such a disaster, it is necessary to make thorough personal hygiene management and institutional program reinforcement. Application/Improvements: It is also necessary to develop systematic management systems that involve planning, implementation, restoration, and prevention with the aim of coping with outbreak of a disaster with an infectious disease.