MERS- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome  

• The World Health Organisation (WHO) recently confirmed a case of the potentially fatal Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Abu Dhabi.

ABOUT MERS-COV

• The Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012.
• Since its detection, 27 countries reported MERS cases.
• According to the WHO, a total of 2,605 cases of the virus have been reported so far, with 936 associated deaths.
• MERS is a zoonotic virus that can transmit between animals and people.
• Common symptoms of MERS infection are: Fever, Shortness of breath, Cough, Sore throat,Muscle and stomach pain and soreness, Vomiting, Diarrhea.
• According to WHO information, people in Saudi Arabia mostly got infected through unprotected contact with infected dromedary camels.