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MERS-CoV: clinical management and guidance

Guidance on investigating Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), public health management of suspected UK cases and advice to travellers.

Updates to this page

From:
UK Health Security Agency
Published:
24 September 2012
Last updated:
20 August 2026
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  1. Added link to new information sheets for contacts page.

  2. Added 'MERS-CoV: background information'. Updated travel advice sheets. Added information sheets for contacts of cases. Removed 'Diagnosis' and 'Public Health Management' sections.

  3. Added a line to direct healthcare professionals to the NIPCM manual.

  4. Updated collection.

  5. Added 'MERS-CoV: advice for people visiting healthcare settings' to the collection.

  6. Added 'MERS-CoV: advice for people travelling to the Middle East'.

  7. A link to the MERS-CoV: infographics for travellers from the Middle East page can be found under Public Health management.

  8. Added clinical diagnostic laboratory specimen handling and processing under diagnosis.

  9. First published.

MERS-CoV is a zoonotic respiratory virus and the causative agent of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). MERS-CoV is a coronavirus, first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012. A similar strain in the UK was identified by Public Heath England’s (PHE) virus reference laboratories at Colindale, now UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) Colindale. The virus was fully sequenced and detailed analysis indicates that the nearest relatives are bat coronaviruses.

Symptoms include fever and cough that progress to a severe pneumonia causing shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In some cases, a diarrheal illness has been the first symptom to appear.

There is currently no vaccine available for MERS-CoV.

Healthcare professionals should refer to National infection prevention and control manual (NIPCM) for England published by NHS England.

Guidance for the public

Guidance on the diagnosis and management of MERS cases and contacts

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