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Review
. 2014 Aug;89(8):1153-8.
doi: 10.1016/j.mayocp.2014.06.008. Epub 2014 Jul 14.

Middle East respiratory syndrome: what clinicians need to know

Priya Sampathkumar  1
Affiliations
Review

Middle East respiratory syndrome: what clinicians need to know

Priya Sampathkumar. Mayo Clin Proc. 2014 Aug.

Abstract

A severe viral illness caused by a newly discovered coronavirus was first reported in the Middle East in 2012. The virus has since been named the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). MERS-CoV cases have been reported in several countries around the world in travelers from the Middle East. The illness has a high mortality rate. Limited human-to-human transmission has occurred including transmission to health care workers. The source of the virus remains unclear, but camels are a possible source. Two unrelated imported cases of MERS-CoV have been reported in the United States. Neither a vaccine nor effective therapy against the virus is available. International cooperation and information sharing will be key to understanding and ending the MERS-CoV outbreak.

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Figures

Figure
Figure
Epidemic curve of MERS-CoV cases as of June 9, 2014 (n=699). This number does not include 113 cases announced by Saudi Arabia on June 3, 2014, as these cases are still being verified by WHO. Source: WHO MERS-CoV summary update June 11, 2014.
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