Middle East Respiratory Syndrome(MERS)
There have been no MERS
cases in the United Statessince May 2014. The risk ofMERS to the general public inthis country remains very low.
CDC and other public healthpartners continue to closely
monitor the MERS situation.
Since MERS first emerged in
the Arabian Peninsula in 2012, CDC has been working with global partners to better
understand the nature of the virus, including how it affects people, and how it
spreads. We recognize the potential for MERS-CoV to spread further and cause
more cases in the United States and globally, and we are taking actions inpreparation. Learn more.

MERS in the U.S.
Since May 2015, the Republic of Korea has been investigating an outbreak of MERS.
It is the largest known outbreak of MERS outside the Arabian Peninsula.
CDC does not recommend that Americans change their travel plans to the Republicof Korea or other countries because of MERS. More
Only two patients in the U.S. have ever tested positive for MERS-CoV infection—
both in May 2014—while more than 500 people have tested negative. In May 2014,
CDC confirmed two cases of MERS in the United States – one in Indiana, the otherin Florida. Both cases were among healthcare providers who lived and worked inSaudi Arabia. Both traveled to the U.S. from Saudi Arabia, where they are believed
to have been infected. Both were hospitalized in the U.S. and later discharged after
fully recovering.

Understanding the Virus
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness that is new tohumans. It was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. The virus that causes MERS iscalled Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Coronaviruses
are common viruses that most people get some time in their life. Humancoronaviruses usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory tract illnesses.
However, MERS-CoV is different from any other coronavirus previously found inpeople.
MERS-CoV likely came from an animal source in the Arabian Peninsula. Researchers
have found MERS-CoV in camels from several countries . We don’t know whether
camels are the source of the virus. Studies continue to provide evidence that camel
infections may play a role in human infection with MERS-CoV. However, more
information is needed.

MERS Symptoms
Some infected people had mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, but most people
infected with MERS-CoV developed severe respiratory illness. They had fever,cough and shortness of breath. Others reported having gastrointestinal symptoms,
like diarrhea and nausea/vomiting, and kidney failure. MERS can even be deadly.
Many people have died.

How MERS Spreads
MERS-CoV is thought to spread from and infected person to others thoughrespiratory secretions, such as coughing. In other countries, the virus has spreadfrom person to person through close contact, such as caring for or living with aninfected person.

Protect yourself from Respiratory Illnesses
There is currently no vaccine to prevent MERS-CoV infection. CDC routinely
advises Americans to help protect themselves from respiratory illnesses by••washing hands often,
avoiding close contact with people who are sick,••

avoiding touching their eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, anddisinfecting frequently touched surfaces.

MERS and Travel
CDC does not recommend that anyone change their travel plans because of MERS.
The current CDC travel notice to countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula is an
Alert (Level 2), which provides special precautions for travelers. Because spread ofMERS has occurred in healthcare settings, the alert advises travelers going tocountries in or near the Arabian Peninsula to provide healthcare services to practice
CDC’s recommendations for infection control of confirmed or suspected cases andto monitor their health closely. Travelers who are going to the area for otherreasons are advised to follow standard precautions, such as hand washing andavoiding contact with people who are ill. See MERS in the Arabian Peninsula for
more information.
CDC has also released a Watch (Level 1) travel notice for the Republic of Korea that
reminds travelers to practice usual precautions. See MERS in the Republic of Korea
for more information.
For information about cases and deaths by country, visit World Health Organization(WHO).
Learn more about MERS in the U.S.