To investigate potential transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during a domestic flight within Australia, we performed epidemiologic analyses with whole-genome sequencing. Eleven passengers with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and symptom onset within 48 hours of the flight were considered infectious during travel; 9 had recently disembarked from a cruise ship with a retrospectively identified SARS-CoV-2 outbreak. The virus strain of those on the cruise and the flight was linked (A2-RP) and had not been previously identified in Australia. For 11 passengers, none of whom had traveled on the cruise ship, PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 illness developed between 48 hours and 14 days after the flight. Eight cases were considered flight associated with the distinct SARS-CoV-2 A2-RP strain; the remaining 3 cases (1 with A2-RP) were possibly flight associated. All 11 passengers had been in the same cabin with symptomatic persons who had culture-positive A2-RP virus strain. This investigation provides evidence of flight-associated SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, 2019 novel coronavirus disease, coronavirus disease, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, viruses, respiratory infections, zoonoses, whole-genome sequencing, SARS-CoV-2, Transmission, outbreak, aircraft, airport, cruise, in-flight, flight-associated, 【초록키워드】 coronavirus, SARS-COV-2 infection, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, symptomatic, Evidence, Analysis, symptom onset, acute respiratory syndrome, PCR-confirmed, SARS-CoV-2 illness, virus strain, potential transmission, performed, provide, 48 hour, 【제목키워드】 coronavirus 2, respiratory,