February 6, 2020

Evidence and characteristics of human-to-human transmission of 2019-nCoV

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Transmission

• Based on a review of 188 confirmed cases from Guangdong Province (China), Kang, et al. describe characteristics of human-to-human transmission. 
  • Average age was 49 years; half male. 158 cases (84%) had traveled to Hubei Province within 14 days of onset. Average duration of symptom onset to diagnosis was 5.4 days.
  • 31 clusters accounting for 84 cases (45%). Among the 31 clusters, 13 were in families [not necessarily in same household], and these families accounted for 37 cases. Detailed descriptions of five family clusters are provided.
  • Of 30 secondary cases (16%), nine occurred in five of the 13 family clusters. In these five, the secondary cases shared a household with at least one family member in that cluster. It appeared that cases among family members with no travel history occurred 2-7 days after the onset date of the family member who traveled.

Kang, et al. (Feb 5, 2020). Evidence and characteristics of human-to-human transmission of 2019-nCoV. Pre-Print downloaded on 6 Feb, 2020 from, https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2020.02.03.20019141v2