Middle East respiratory syndrome
Camel-borne coronavirus disease, identified in 2012, that kills about a third of reported cases.
Identified in 2012, Middle East respiratory syndrome is a camel-borne coronavirus disease that kills about one third of reported patients.
Last refreshed: 22 October 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Timeline for Middle East respiratory syndrome
Mentioned in: Six Saudi MERS cases had no camel link
Pandemics and BiosecurityMentioned in: MERS clade B found in Nile Basin camels
Pandemics and BiosecurityMentioned in: MERS kills a third, two new Gulf cases
Pandemics and BiosecurityMentioned in: Ship hantavirus cluster is winding down
Pandemics and BiosecurityBackground
A coronavirus causes Middle East respiratory syndrome, or MERS. Dromedary camels are its main animal reservoir, and close camel contact is a common route into people. Human-to-human spread can occur through close contact, especially in health facilities, but sustained community transmission has not become established.
MERS was first identified in 2012 and has killed about one third of reported patients. Several viral lineages circulate in camel populations, so animal surveillance and whole-genome sequencing help assess whether a lineage has become established in a new region. Incomplete sequence fragments can signal a risk without proving it. No supplied story slug covers the disease itself.
Reference
How do people catch MERS?
What did the 2026 camel survey find about MERS?
How many people have had MERS?
Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 22 October 2026. Editorial standards.