Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a coronavirus, a family of viruses that can cause a range of mild to severe respiratory illness. MERS-CoV is usually transmitted from camels to humans. Person-to-person transmission has occurred only with close contact, usually in hospital settings. Cases have mostly been reported from countries in the Middle East, most in Saudi Arabia. Currently there is no vaccine or specific treatment for this virus.