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Coronavirus

Coronaviruses are common throughout the world. They can infect people and animals. Five different coronaviruses can infect people and make them sick. They usually cause mild to moderate upper-respiratory illness. But, some coronaviruses, like the one that caused SARS in 2003, can cause severe illness...

About Coronavirus

Information about the virus, how it spreads, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, prevention...

Resources

Guidelines, scientific articles, and educational materials related to coronaviruses...

Coronaviruses in Animals

Coronaviruses may infect many different animals and cause them to have respiratory, gastrointestinal, liver, and neurologic diseases. Most of these coronaviruses usually infect only one animal species or, at most, a small number of closely related species. However, some coronaviruses, like the one that caused SARS, can infect people and animals.

Related Materials

For General Public

Coronavirus infections, World Health Organization
CDC Feature - MERS Imported to US

CDC Podcast- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome. (4:01 mins) Released May 19, 2014
CDC Podcast- Unraveling the Mysteries of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, (8:58 min) Dr. Aron Hall. March 11, 2014

For the Media

CDC Press Release Illinois resident who had contact with Indiana MERS patient tests positive for MERS coronavirus. May 17, 2014
CDC Press Briefing Transcript Updates on Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) investigation in the United States. May 17, 2014
CDC Press Release CDC announces second imported case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in the United States. May 12, 2014
CDC Press Briefing Transcript Second case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection (MERS) in the United States. May 12, 2014
CDC Press Release CDC announces first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection (MERS) in the United States. May 2, 2014
CDC Press Briefing Transcript First case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus infection (MERS) in the United States. May 2, 2014

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For Healthcare Professionals and Laboratories

Resources

Notice to Healthcare Providers and Public Health Officials: Updated Guidance for the Evaluation of Severe Respiratory Illness Associated with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). HAN, August 12, 2013
Notice to Health Care Providers: Updated Guidelines for Evaluation of Severe Respiratory Illness Associated with Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). HAN, June 7, 2013
2013 Coronavirus Emergency Use Authorization (Potential Emergency). FDA, June 5, 2013
Notice to Health Care Providers: Updated Guidelines for Evaluation of Severe Respiratory Illness Associated with a Novel Coronavirus. HAN, March 8, 2013
Rapid Risk Assessments: Severe respiratory disease associated with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control
Coronavirus infections, World Health Organization
Novel human Coronavirus hCoV-EMC. Institute for Virology, University of Klinikumbonn
Coronaviruses, including SARS-CoV (Red Book, American Academy of Pediatrics, 2012)

Selected Scientific Articles

Cases, Clusters, and Outbreaks

Payne DC, Iblan I, Alqasrawi S, Al Nsour M, Rha B, et al. Stillbirth during infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. J Infect Dis. 2014 Feb 7. DOI PubMED
Khuri-Bulos N, Payne DC, Xiaoyan L, Erdman D, Wang L, et al. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus not detected in children hospitalized with acute respiratory illness in Amman, Jordan, March 2010 to September 2012. Clin Microbiol InfectI. 2013 Dec 9. DOI PubMED
Memish ZA, Zumla Al, Assiri A. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infections in health care workers. NEJM. 2013 Aug. DOI PubMed
Guery B, Poissy J, el Mansouf L, Séjourné C, Ettahar N, Lemaire X, et al. Clinical features and viral diagnosis of two cases of infection with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus: a report of nosocomial transmission. The Lancet. 2013 Jun. DOI PubMed
Assiri, A, McGeer, A, Perl T, Price C, Al Rabeeah A, Cummings D, et al. for the KSA MERS-CoV Investigation Team. Hospital Outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus.NEJM. 2013 Jun. DOI PubMed
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) UK Novel Coronavirus Investigation team. Evidence of person-to-person transmission within a family cluster of novel coronavirus infections, United Kingdom, February 2013 . Euro Surveill. 2013;18(11):pii=20427.
Zaki AM, van Boheemen S, Bestebroer TM, Osterhaus ADME, Fouchier RAM. Isolation of a novel coronavirus from a man with pneumonia in Saudi Arabia. NEJM. 2012 Oct. DOI PubMed
Bermingham A, Chand MA, Brown CS, Aarons E, Tong C, Langrish C, et al. Severe respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus, in a patient transferred to the United Kingdom from the Middle East, September 2012. Euro Surveill. 2012;17(40):pii=20290.
Pebody RG, Chand MA, Thomas HL, Green HK, Boddington NL, Carvalho C, et al. The United Kingdom public health response to an imported laboratory confirmed case of a novel coronavirus in September 2012. Euro Surveill. 2012;17(40):pii=20292.

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Surveillance and General Epidemiology

Nishiura H, Mizumoto K, Ejima K, Zhong Y, Cowling BJ, Omori R. Incubation period as part of the case definition of severe respiratory illness caused by a novel coronavirus . Euro Surveill. 2012;17(42):pii=20296.
Danielsson N, on behalf of the ECDC Internal Response Team, Catchpole M. Novel coronavirus associated with severe respiratory disease: case definition and public health measures . Euro Surveill. 2012:17(39):pii=20282.
Khuri-Bulos N, Payne DC, Xiaoyan L, Erdman D, Wang L, et al. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus not detected in children hospitalized with acute respiratory illness in Amman, Jordan, March 2010 to September 2012. CMI. 2013 Dec 9. DOI PubMED
Assiri A, A Al-Tawfiq J, A Al-Rabeeah A, A Al-Rabiah F, Al-Hajjar S, Al-Barrak A, et al. Epidemiological, demographic, and clinical characteristics of 47 cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus disease from Saudi Arabia: a descriptive study. The Lancet. 2013 July. DOI PubMed

Laboratory Studies

Aburizaiza AS, Mattes FM, Azhar EI, Hassan AM, Memish ZA, Muth D, et al. Investigation of anti-middle East respiratory syndrome antibodies in blood donors and slaughterhouse workers in jeddah and makkah, saudi arabia, fall 2012 . J infect Dis. 2014 Jan;209(2):243-6. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jit589. Epub 2013 Nov 11.
Corman VM, Müller MA, Costabel U, Timm J, Binger T, Meyer B, et al. Assays for laboratory confirmation of novel human coronavirus (hCoV-EMC) infections . Euro Surveill.2012;17(49):pii=20334
Palm D, Pereyaslov D, Vaz J, Broberg E, Zeller H, Gross D, et al. Laboratory capability for molecular detection and confirmation of novel coronavirus in Europe, November 2012 . Euro Surveill. 2012;17(49):pii=20335.
Corman VM, Eckerle I, Bleicker T, Zaki A, Landt O, Eschbach-Bludau M, et al. Detection of a novel human coronavirus by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction .Euro Surveill. 2012; 17(39):pii=20285.
Raj VS, Mou H, Smits SL, Dekkers DHW, Müller MA, Dijkman R, et al. Dipeptidyl peptidase 4 is a functional receptor for the emerging human coronavirus-EMC. Nature. 2013;495:251-4.DOI PubMed
Kindler E, Jónsdóttir HR, Muth D, Hamming OJ, Hartmann R, Rodriguez R, Geffers R, Fouchier RA, Drosten C, Müller MA, Dijkman R, Thiel V. Efficient replication of the novel human betacoronavirus EMC on primary human epithelium highlights its zoonotic potential. MBio. 2013;4(1):e00611-12. DOI PubMed
van Boheemen S, de Graaf M, Lauber C, Bestebroer TM, Raj VS, Zaki AM, Osterhaus ADME, Haagmans BL, Gorbalenya AE, Snijder EJ, Fouchier RAM. Genomic characterization of a newly discovered coronavirus associated with acute respiratory distress syndrome in humans.mBio. 2012;3(6):e00473-12. DOI PubMed

Animal Studies

Alagaili AN, Briese T, Mishra N, Kapoor V, Sameroff SC, de Wit E, et al. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in dromedary camels in Saudi Arabia. mBio 2014 Feb;5(2)
Chu DKW, Poon LLM, Gomaa MM, Shehata MM, Perera RAPM, Zeid DA, et al. MERS coronaviruses in dromedary camels, Egypt. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Jun;20(6)
Memish ZA, Cotton M, Meyer B, Watson SJ, Alsahafi AJ, Al Rabeeah AA, et al. Human infection with MERS coronavirus after exposure to infected camels, Saudi Arabia, 2013. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Jun;20(6)
Meyer B, Müller MA, Corman VM, Reusken CBEM, Ritz D, Godeke G-D, et al. Antibodies against MERS coronavirus in dromedary camels, United Arab Emirates, 2003 and 2013. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Apr;20(4)
Yao Y, Bao L, Deng W, Xu L, Li F, Lv Q, et al. An animal model of MERS produced by infection of rhesus macaques with MERS coronavirus . J Infect Dis. 2014 Jan;209(2):236-42. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jit590. Epub 2013 Nov 11.
Haagmans BL, Al Dhahiry SHS, Reusken CBEM, Raj VS, Galiano M, Myers R, et al. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in dromedary camels: an outbreak investigation . Lancet Infect Dis. 2013 Dec. doi:10.1016/S1473-3099(13)70690-X
Reusken CB, Ababneh M, Raj VS, Meyer B, Eljarah A, et al. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) serology in major livestock species in an affected region in Jordan, June to September 2013 . Euro Surveill. 2013;18(50):pii=20662
Hemida MG, Perera RA, Wang P, Alhammadi MA, Siu LY, et al. Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus seroprevalence in domestic livestock in Saudi Arabia, 2010 to 2013 . Euro Surveill. 2013;18(50):pii=20659
Memish ZA, Mishra N, Olival KJ, Fagbo SF, Kapoor V, Epstein JH, et al. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus in bats, Saudi Arabia. Emerg Infect Dis. 2013 Nov;19(11)
Falzarano D, de Wit E, Rasmussen AL, Feldmann F, Okumura A, Scott DP, et al. Treatment with interferon-α2b and ribavirin improves outcome in MERS-CoV-infected rhesus macaques.Nat Med. 2013 Sep 8. DOI PubMed
Reusken C, Haagmans B, Müller M, Gutierrez C, Godeke G, Meyer B, et al. Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus neutralising serum antibodies in dromedary camels: a comparative serological study. The Lancet. 2013 Aug. DOI PubMed

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CDC MMWR Articles

CDC. First confirmed cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in the United States, updated information on the epidemiology of MERS-CoV infection, and guidance for the public, clinicians, and public health authorities — May 2014.MMWR. 2014;63(19);431-6.
CDC. Updated information on the epidemiology of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection and guidance for the public, clinicians, and public health authorities, 2012-2013. MMWR. 2013;62(38);793-6.
CDC. Update: Recommendations for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). MMWR. 2013;62(27);557.
CDC. Update: Severe Respiratory illness associated with Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV)—worldwide, 2012-2013. MMWR. 2013;62(Early Release);1-4.
CDC. Update: Severe respiratory illness associated with a novel coronavirus - worldwide, 2012-2013. MMWR. 2013;62;194-5.
CDC. Severe respiratory illness associated with a novel coronavirus - Saudi Arabia and Qatar, 2012.MMWR. 2012;61;820.

Reviews, Commentary, and Editorials

Gautret P, Charrel R, Benkouiten S, Belhouchat K, Nougairede A, Drali T, et al. Lack of MERS coronavirus but prevalence of influenza virus in French pilgrims after 2013 Hajj. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Mar;20(4).
Watson JT, Hall AJ, Erdman DD, Swerdlow DL, Gerber SI. Unraveling the mysteries of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus. Emerg Infect Dis. 2014 Jun;20(6).
Hui DS, Alimuddin Z. Advancing Priority Research on the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus . J Infect Dis. 2014 Jan;209(2):173-6. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jit591. Epub 2013 Nov 11.
Anderson LJ, Baric RS. Emerging human coronaviruses-disease potential and preparedness (editorial). NEJM. 2012 Oct. DOI PubMed
Penttinen PM, Kaasik-Aaslav K, Friaux A, Donachie A, Sudre B, Amato-Gauci AJ, et al. Taking stock of the first 133 MERS coronavirus cases globally - Is the epidemic changing? Euro Surveill. 2013;18(39):pii=20596

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SARS

A Novel Coronavirus called "MERS-CoV"

A novel coronavirus called “Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus” (MERS-CoV) was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. It has caused severe illness and death in people from several countries.

On May 2, 2014, the first confirmed case was reported in a traveler to the United States.

On May 11, 2014, a second U.S. imported case of MERS was confirmed in a traveler who also came to the U.S. from Saudi Arabia.

The two U.S. cases are not linked. More about MERS in the U.S.