An outbreak of acute respiratory illness caused by human rhinovirus species C in facilities for persons with severe motor and intellectual disabilities.

Human rhinovirus (HRV) commonly causes mild respiratory illness but may occasionally result in severe disease requiring hospitalization. Herein, we report a respiratory outbreak at a residential hospital for individuals with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) where HRV was detected. The facility housed 47 residents, 31 of whom developed symptoms. Further, 20 symptomatic patients were tested, and HRV-C was detected in 15 of them using RT-PCR. The nucleotide identity of the detected strains was 100%, and based on phylogenetic analysis, the strain was identified as the HRV-C56 type. No other pathogens were detected. Although the specific mode of transmission remains unclear, the patients had been residing at the facility for an extended period of time with limited mobility. Therefore, healthcare workers or visitors may have been the source of infection. In this outbreak, HRV-C disseminated rapidly among the residents, resulting in the spread of infections to healthcare workers and affecting healthcare. It is imperative for medical institutions, particularly long-term care facilities, to establish systems for the early detection and management of respiratory infections.