Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV): Global Alert and response

Abstract

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a newly emerging respiratory virus with a high case fatality rate among identified cases. The virus is thought to cause a severe disease in patients with underlying co-morbidities. The Identification of asymptomatic patients and mild cases among family and healthcare workers contacts of confirmed cases indicates a wider spectrum of clinical manifestation of the disease. The majority of patients presented with fever (98%), fever with cough (83%), and shortness of breath (72%). The understanding of the epidemiology and clinical presentation of the disease is increasing overtime.