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Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by the MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV). It was first identified in humans in 2012 in Saudi Arabia and has since been reported in other countries in the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and the United States. MERS-CoV is a zoonotic virus, meaning it is transmitted from animals to humans. Dromedary camels are considered the primary reservoir of MERS-CoV, and human-to-human transmission can occur, particularly in healthcare settings.