Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV): A Review

Abstract

Ten years after the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), which caused the first large-scale epidemic of the 21st century, a novel human coronavirus becomes identified, posing another threat to global public health. The virus, discovered in Saudi Arabia, in September 2012, causes infections with a clinical manifestation similar to that of SARS-CoV, although its transmissibility among humans seems to be lower. Within a year, 130 cases have been reported in Europe, Africa and Asia, 58 of which were fatal. Due to the fact that the majority of these cases appeared to be linked with the Middle East, the virus was named Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Although certain aspects related to this novel virus have already been unraveled, our knowledge of its source, pathogenesis and ways of transmission remains limited. This thesis summarizes the literature that is currently available on MERS-CoV and discusses ways to combat its spread and prevent another epidemic.