New MERS Case Reported in Middle East

The World Health Organization (WHO) today announced a case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) cases was confirmed in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

According to the WHO's Disease Outbreak News on July 24, 2023, this MERS-CoV case had no history of direct or indirect contact with camels, goats, or sheep. 

Prior to this WHO notification, the last MERS-CoV infection reported from the UAE was in November 2021.

Since July 2012, the UAE has confirmed 94 MERS-CoV cases and 12 related fatalities.

The WHO expects that additional cases of MERS-CoV infection will be reported from the Middle East.

MERS-CoV cases have reached 2,605 globally, including 936 associated deaths as of July 2023. 

These are MERS vaccine candidates in development, but the WHO has not approved any.