Threats and outbreaks of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)

Since the disease was first identified in Saudi Arabia in September 2012, approximately 2 000 MERS-CoV cases have been detected in over 20 countries. In Europe, some countries have reported confirmed cases, all with direct or indirect connection with the Middle East. The majority of MERS-CoV cases continue to be reported from the Middle East. The source of the virus remains unknown, but the pattern of transmission and virological studies point towards dromedary camels in the Middle East as being a reservoir from which humans sporadically become infected through zoonotic transmission. Human-to-human transmission is amplified among household contacts and in healthcare settings.