Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a zoonotic betacoronavirus, first identified in 2012, that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, a severe respiratory illness with a high case-fatality rate. MERS-CoV belongs to the same broad family of coronaviruses as SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, but is a d…
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a zoonotic betacoronavirus, first identified in 2012, that causes Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, a severe respiratory illness with a high case-fatality rate. MERS-CoV belongs to the same broad family of coronaviruses as SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2, but is a distinct virus with its own epidemiology. Dromedary camels are recognized as a reservoir and source of zoonotic transmission to humans, and limited human-to-human spread has occurred, particularly in healthcare settings. Clinical presentation ranges from mild or asymptomatic infection to severe pneumonia, acute respiratory distress, and multi-organ involvement, with older adults and those with comorbidities at greatest risk. Since its emergence on the Arabian Peninsula, sporadic cases and clusters have continued to be reported, and MERS remains a recognized public-health threat for which there is no specific approved antiviral therapy or widely deployed vaccine. As a member of the coronavirus family, MERS-CoV is studied alongside related emerging coronaviruses with respect to their origins, molecular evolution, diagnosis, clinical management, and pandemic potential. Research published in this broader coronavirus area covers themes such as the molecular evolution and spike-protein characteristics of human and animal coronaviruses, diagnostic RT-PCR assays, cytokine responses, candidate therapeutics, and the interplay between emerging infectious diseases, animals, and public-health responses.
12 peer-reviewed articles, ranked by relevance. Each links to its DOI.
The 12 articles above have been cited 32 times in the scholarly literature. Citation data via OpenAlex and Crossref, updated Jun 2026.
A sample of recent works citing this journal's research on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, linking to each citing work.