Investigation of cases of human infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

In late 2012, a novel coronavirus that had not previously been seen in humans was identified for the first time in a resident of the Middle East. The virus, now known as the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERSCoV), 1 has (as of 26 June 2015) caused more than 1350 laboratory-confirmed cases of human infection. Thus far, all patients infected with MERS-CoV have had a direct or indirect link to the Middle East, however, local nonsustained human-to-human transmission has occurred in other countries, from people who had recently travelled to the Middle East.