Middle East respiratory syndrome
Also known as MERS, Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome, camel flu
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory infection caused by Middle East respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe depending on age and risk level. Typical symptoms include fever, cough, diarrhea, and shortness of breath. The disease is typically more severe in those with other health problems.
Key facts
- Medical condition (new).name
- Middle East respiratory syndrome(MERS)
- Medical condition (new).synonyms
- Camel flu
- Medical condition (new).image
- MERS-CoV electron micrograph3.jpg
- Medical condition (new).caption
- MERS-CoV virions
- Medical condition (new).field
- Infectious disease
- Medical condition (new).symptoms
- Fever, cough, shortness of breath
- Medical condition (new).onset
- 2 to 14 days post exposure
- Medical condition (new).causes
- MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV)
- Medical condition (new).risks
- Contact with camels and camel products especially in the Middle East, parts of Africa and South Asia
- Medical condition (new).diagnosis
- rRT-PCR testing
- Medical condition (new).prevention
- Hand washing, avoiding contact with camels and camel products
~25 min read
Article
26 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Cause
- Virology
- Transmission
- Camels
- Between people
- Diagnosis
- World Health Organization
- Centers for Disease Control
- Medical imaging
- Laboratory testing
- Prevention
- Treatment
- Epidemiology
- Saudi Arabia
- United States
- Netherlands
- South Korea
- Philippines
- United Kingdom
- Kenya
- Comparisons
- History
- Research
- References
- External links
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory infection caused by Middle East respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Symptoms may range from none, to mild, to severe depending on age and risk level. Typical symptoms include fever, cough, diarrhea, and shortness of breath. The disease is typically more severe in those with other health problems.
The first case was identified in June 2012 by Egyptian physician Ali Mohamed Zaki at the Dr. Soliman Fakeeh Hospital in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and most cases have occurred in the Arabian Peninsula. Over 2,600 cases have been reported as of January 2021, including 45 cases in the year 2020. About 35% of those who are diagnosed with the disease die from it. Larger outbreaks have occurred in South Korea in 2015 and in Saudi Arabia in 2018.