What is MERS and should I be worried?

MERS is a viral respiratory illness caused by the MERS-CoV virus, which is from the same virus family (coronavirus) that causes some colds. It is quite deadly; approximately 30% of infected people have died (~200 in total). The disease is centered in Saudi Arabia where it first appeared two years ago. There have been only a handful of cases in the U.S. (i.e. people who traveled to the Middle East) and no one has died.

Below is a FAQ from the Centers of Disease Control (CDC) which answers some commonly asked questions about MERS:

Q: What is MERS?
A: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness. MERS is caused by a coronavirus called “Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus” (MERS-CoV).

Q: What is MERS-CoV?
A: MERS-CoV is a beta coronavirus. It was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. MERS-CoV used to be called “novel coronavirus,” or “nCoV”. It is different from other coronaviruses that have been found in people before.

Q: Is MERS-CoV the same as the SARS virus?
A: No. MERS-CoV is not the same coronavirus that caused severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003. However, like the SARS virus, MERS-CoV is most similar to coronaviruses found in bats. CDC is still learning about MERS.

Q: Am I at risk for MERS-CoV infection in the United States?
A: The MERS situation in the U.S. represents a very low risk to the general public in this country.

Q: Does MERS-CoV spread from person to person?
A: MERS-CoV has been shown to spread between people who are in close contact. Transmission from infected patients to healthcare personnel has also been observed. Clusters of cases in several countries are being investigated.

Figure 1. Unless you plan to travel to the Middle East (i.e. Saudi Arabia) you don't have to worry about MERS.