Sabeena Jalal.
The emerging threat of MERS.
J Pak Med Assoc Jan ;65(3):310-1.

Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). It is a specie of the genus Beta coronavirus, originally termed novel coronavirus.1 As of June 2014, MERS-CoV cases have been reported in 22 countries mostly belonging to the Arabian peninsula.2,3 Virologist Dr. Ali Mohamed Zaki isolated and identified the first established case in Saudi Arabia in 2012.4,5 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has labelled it as a transmissible disease from human-to-humans. It is known to be transmitted form infected people to others through close contact, such as those in healthcare settings caring for and those living with an infected persons.6 Close contact is defined as being within about 6 feet (2 meters) or within the room for a extended period of time, while not wearing recommended personal protective equipment (that is., gloves, gowns, respirator, eye protection); or b) having direct contact with infectious secretions while not wearing recommended personal protective equipment. Till now, brief interactions, for instance, walking by a person, are not considered high risk and do not constitute close contact.7

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