Journal Article

Characteristics and Timing of Initial Virus Shedding in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, Utah, USA

Tamin, Azaibi, Lewis, Nathaniel M., Gregory, Christopher J., Banks, Michelle M., Harcourt, Jennifer L., Dietrich, Elizabeth A., Nabity, Scott, Kirking, Hannah L., Hall, Aron, Duca, Lindsey M., Rispens, Jared R., Christensen, Kimberly, Matanock, Almea M., Fields, Victoria L., Tate, Jacqueline E., Willardson, Sarah, Dunn, Angela C., Marcenac, Perrine, Kiphibane, Tair

2021

Overview

Virus shedding in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) can occur before onset of symptoms; less is known about symptom progression or infectiousness associated with initiation of viral shedding. We investigated household transmission in 5 households with daily specimen collection for 5 consecutive days starting a median of 4 days after symptom onset in index patients. Seven contacts across 2 households implementing no precautionary measures were infected. Of these 7, 2 tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by reverse transcription PCR on day 3 of 5. Both had mild, nonspecific symptoms for 1-3 days preceding the first positive test. SARS-CoV-2 was cultured from the fourth-day specimen in 1 patient and from the fourth- and fifth-day specimens in the other. We also describe infection control measures taken in the households that had no transmission. Persons exposed to SARS-CoV-2 should self-isolate, including from household contacts, wear a mask, practice hand hygiene, and seek testing promptly.

• Publisher: U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases,Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Characteristics and Timing of Initial Virus Shedding in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, Utah, USA / Child / coronavirus disease / Coronaviruses / COVID-19 / COVID-19 - transmission / Disease control / Disease transmission / Disease Transmission, Infectious - prevention & control / Disease Transmission, Infectious - statistics & numerical data / Environmental Exposure - prevention & control / Environmental Exposure - statistics & numerical data / Expedited / Family Characteristics / Female / Fever / Households / Humans / Infection Control - methods / Male / Medical laboratories / Medical supplies / Methods / Middle Aged / Observations / Patients / Public health / Questionnaires / SARS virus / SARS-CoV-2 / SARS-CoV-2 - isolation & purification / Sentinel health events / Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 / Specimen Handling / Time Factors / Utah / Virulence (Microbiology) / Virus Shedding