A new case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has been confirmed by Public Health England (PHE) on the 23 August. Health authorities are identifying close contacts of the patient as a precautionary measure. This is the fifth case of MERS-CoV diagnosed in England, where there have been no cases since 2013.

The current nosocomial outbreaks, of MERS, in Riyadh and Amman are the latest reminder of the need for healthcare systems to be prepared.

​​Since April 2012 and as of 2 September 2015, 1 545 cases of MERS (including 588 deaths) have been reported by health authorities worldwide.

​Since April 2012, and as of 18 August 2015, 1 449 cases of MERS-CoV, including 551 deaths, have been reported by health authorities worldwide.

​Since the previous update of the ECDC Rapid Risk Assessment on MERS-CoV (30 June 2015), 13 new cases and seven deaths have been reported globally from South Korea (4 cases and 4 deaths), Saudi Arabia (8 cases and 3 deaths) and the Philippines who reported a travel-related MERS case related to travel in the Middle East on 6 July 2015.

​Since the last epidemiological update on 15 June 2015, 25 additional cases and seven deaths in previously reported cases have been reported in South Korea. Health authorities in Thailand reported their first MERS-CoV case.​

​Since the last epidemiological update published by ECDC on 12 June 2015, 24 additional cases and six deaths in previously reported cases have been reported by South Korean authorities.

​Since the last update by ECDC in its risk assessment of 11 June 2015, 18 new cases and one death in a previously reported case have been reported by South Korean authorities.

Epidemiological update of MERS-CoV from the Middle East and the rest of the world

​Since the last ECDC epidemiological update of 22 October and as of 5 November 2014, Saudi Arabia has reported 22 new cases.