Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

First identified in 2012, Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a novel coronavirus that causes Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). Symptoms include:

• fever
• cough
• shortness of breath

Pneumonia is also a common symptom but is not always present.

The disease is more severe in older people and those with underlying disease. Case fatality is reported as approximately 35%.

The vast majority of MERS cases have been reported from the Arabian pennisula, but cases have also been found in other countries, including the UK. Following a single case in 2015, South Korea experienced a large outbreak associated with healthcare facilities.

The source of the virus is thought to be Arabian camels and no sustained human-to-human transmission has ever occurred. However, limited human-to-human transmission can occur if there's close contact to an infected patient and this has led to outbreaks in healthcare facilities.