MERS

Introduction. 

Middle Eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a newly emerging respiratory infection caused by a novel coronavirus related to the virus that causes SARS. MERS outbreaks are currently being reported in the Middle East and have a fatality rate of 50%, making this virus much deadlier than SARS. MERS is zoonotic and is contracted by humans from camels or bats.

Summary

• Cause: MERS coronavirus
• Microscopy: enveloped ssRNA virus with club-shaped glycoprotein spikes
• Symptoms: fever, cough, shortness of breath
• Transmission: Respiratory, close contact
• Complications: Pneumonia, kidney failure; Mortality of ~30%
• Pathogenesis: respiratory tract infection leading to pneumonia
• Treatment: supportive

References/Links

1. http://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/MERS/about/index.html
2. http://www.who.int/csr/don/archive/disease/coronavirus_infections/en/
3. http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/i/newscms/2014_18/417166/1405020-mers-jhc-1605_1c2b70531f73dee3ebb9a3ff3df30001.jpg