Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS)
About MERS
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus (referred to as MERS-CoV) that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. Common symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, though gastrointestinal symptoms and pneumonia have also been reported (WHO).
Key facts:
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Since September 2012, there have been over 2,400 laboratory-confirmed cases of MERS. Around 35% of those patients have died (WHO).
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Human-to-human transmission is possible, though rare unless in close contact, such as when providing unprotected care for a patient (WHO).
- The current scientific understanding is that dromedary camels are a major reservoir host for MERS-CoV and the most likely animal source for human infection (WHO).
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27 countries have reported cases. However, so far, all cases of MERS have been linked through travel to, or residence in, countries in and near the Arabian Peninsula (WHO, CDC).
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The largest known outbreak of MERS outside the Arabian Peninsula occurred in the Republic of Korea in 2015 (CDC).
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This occurred in a hospital, reinforcing the need for the U.S. healthcare system to prepare for such an event, however unlikely.
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"Figure 3. Epidemic curve of laboratory-confirmed MERS-CoV human infections reported to WHO *as of 30 June 2019". WHO MERS-CoV Global Summary and Assessment of Risk, July 2019 (WHO/MERS/RA/19.1). Geneva, Switzerland: World Health Organization; 2019. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.
Where to Start:
- Consult the CDC guidance here:
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Review NETEC’s online module on MERS-CoV to the right above.
Know the signs and symptoms:
"Patients in the U.S. Who Should Be Evaluated for MERS-CoV Infection." CDC. https://www.cdc.gov/mers/hcp/diagnosis-testing/
Screening Tools
Clinical Management Tools
Laboratory Sources
