![mers_top](/images/devanimalhealthlibraries/headers/mers_col.jpg?sfvrsn=3455d72e_1)
6 June 2024, 12:00 hours; Rome
Situation: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV): zoonotic virus with pandemic potential.
Countries with known human cases1: Jordan, Saudi Arabia (KSA), Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Kuwait, Yemen, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Tunisia, Malaysia, the Philippines, the United States of America (USA), Egypt, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Iran, Algeria, Turkey, Austria, Greece, Republic of Korea, China, Thailand, the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Findings in humans: 2,613 cases confirmed with 941 fatalities (since September 2012)2. Four new outbreaks and two new fatalities were reported since the last Update (21 March 2024). Please see ‘Situation in humans’ for further details.
Countries with published animal findings (serology and/or virology): Algeria, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Mali, Mongolia, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia (KSA), Senegal, Somalia, Spain (Canary Islands), Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, United Arab Emirates.
1 Countries in order of first reported occurrence.
2 For detailed information on human cases, please refer to WHO.
Map 1. MERS-CoV livestock field surveys by country*
*Note: Positive findings in Spain refer to samples taken in the Canary Islands. Livestock surveillance in Chile, not pictured, resulted negative.
Map 2. Global distribution of human cases of MERS-CoV
Note: Stars highlight countries reporting human cases since 2020 (Oman, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and United Arab Emirates).
Table 1. MERS-CoV cases in humans by country and dates of first and most recent observations
Country | Cumulative number of confirmed MERS-CoV human cases |
First observation | Last Observation | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Middle East |
Saudi Arabia |
2 204 |
13/06/2012 |
10/04/2024 |
United Arab Emirates |
94 |
19/03/2013 |
10/07/2023 |
|
Jordan |
28 |
02/04/2012 |
26/09/2015 |
|
Qatar |
28 |
15/08/2013 |
18/03/2022 |
|
Oman |
26 |
26/10/2013 |
28/12/2022 |
|
Iran (Islamic Republic of) |
6 |
11/05/2014 |
18/03/2015 |
|
Kuwait |
4 |
30/10/2013 |
08/09/2015 |
|
Lebanon |
2 |
22/04/2014 |
08/06/2017 |
|
Yemen |
1 |
17/03/2014 |
17/03/2014 |
|
Bahrain (the Kingdom of) |
1 |
04/04/2016 |
04/04/2016 |
|
Asia |
Republic of Korea |
186 |
11/05/2015 |
28/08/2018 |
Philippines |
2 |
15/04/2014 |
30/06/2015 |
|
Thailand |
3 |
10/06/2015 |
25/07/2016 |
|
China |
1 |
21/05/2015 |
21/05/2015 |
|
Malaysia |
2 |
08/04/2014 |
24/12/2017 |
|
Europe |
United Kingdom |
5 |
03/09/2012 |
16/08/2018 |
Germany |
3 |
05/10/2012 |
07/03/2015 |
|
Netherlands |
2 |
01/05/2014 |
05/05/2014 |
|
France |
2 |
23/04/2013 |
27/04/2013 |
|
Austria |
2 |
22/09/2014 |
08/09/2016 |
|
Turkey |
1 |
25/09/2014 |
25/09/2014 |
|
Italy |
1 |
25/05/2013 |
25/05/2013 |
|
Greece |
1 |
08/04/2014 |
08/04/2014 |
|
Americas |
United States of America |
2 |
14/04/2014 |
01/05/2014 |
Africa |
Tunisia |
3 |
01/05/2013 |
17/06/2013 |
Algeria |
2 |
23/05/2014 |
23/05/2014 |
|
Egypt |
1 |
22/04/2014 |
22/04/2014 |
Figure 1. Human epidemiological timeline (with cases reporting animal exposure in blue), by month of disease onset (since January 2015)
Figure 2. Breakdown of human MERS-CoV cases by potential source of exposure (in percent).
Note: While infection control improves in healthcare settings and history of animal contact is recorded more consistently in case investigations, the overall number of cases has decreased (see Figure 1: Human Epidemiological Timeline). The apparent increase in proportion of primary cases with animal exposure therefore should be interpreted in the overall context of a reduced human case count. Data not displayed prior to July 2015 as a result of inconsistent collection of human epidemiological data before this date.
McNabb L, Durr PA, Lunt R, Barr J, Adams TE, Pearce L, Poon LLM, Perera RAM, Demissie GF, Bowden TR. Development and preliminary validation of a MERS-CoV ELISA for serological testing of camels and alpacas. J Virol Methods. 2024 Jun;327:114923. [reference] This study describes the development and preliminary validation of a new serological assay using MERS-CoV S1 protein in an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) format. The MERS-CoV S1 ELISA demonstrated high analytical specificity, with no cross-reactivity observed in serum of animals infected with other viruses, including different coronaviruses.
Rodon J, Sachse M, Te N, Segalés J, Bensaid A, Risco C, Vergara-Alert J. Middle East respiratory coronavirus (MERS-CoV) internalized by llama alveolar macrophages does not result in virus replication or induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Microbes Infect. 2024 Mar-Apr;26(3):105252. [reference] The authors investigated whether llama alveolar macrophages (LAMs) are susceptible to MERS-CoV infection and can elicit pro-inflammatory responses. MERS-CoV did not replicate in LAMs; however, they effectively capture and degrade viral particles. LAMs do not induce pro-inflammatory cytokines upon MERS-CoV sensing.
Egypt
Ethiopia
Kenya
Jordan
Information provided herein is current as of the date of issue. Information added or changed since the last MERS-CoV situation update appears in orange. Human cases are depicted in the geographic location of their report. For some cases, exposure may have occurred in one geographic location but reported in another. For cases with unknown onset date, reporting date was used instead. FAO compiles information drawn from multiple national (Ministries of Agriculture or Livestock, Ministries of Health; Centers for Disease Prevention and Control [CDC]) and international sources (World Health Organization [WHO], World Organisation for Animal Health [WOAH]) as well as peer-reviewed scientific articles. FAO makes every effort to ensure, but does not guarantee, accuracy, completeness or authenticity of the information. The designation employed and the presentation of material on the map do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.
If interested in a previous issue please send an email to EMPRES-Animal Health specifying the intended use of the document.