MERS

noun

ˈmərz 

: a serious viral respiratory illness that is marked by fever, cough, and shortness of breath and that may often progress to severe pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome and organ failure

Note: MERS is caused by a coronavirus (species Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus of the genus Betacoronavirus) related to the causative virus of SARS. The first cases of MERS appeared in Saudi Arabia and most cases originate from countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula.

see mers-cov

Examples of MERS in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

One inflection point came in 2015, the year of the MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus) epidemic, when a misogynistic smear campaign accused two Korean women of visiting MERS-plagued Hong Kong and refusing to test themselves before returning home. —Constance Grady, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Groups of women, outraged by the misogyny, started gathering on a MERS forum to talk about how they were done with men. —Constance Grady, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018

Moss’ proposal did not technically violate federal gain-of-function regulations, because the ban only pertained to SARS, MERS, and influenza viruses at the time. —Sarah Owermohle, STAT, 11 June 2024

Since 2000, the world has experienced 15 novel Ebola epidemics, the global spread of a 1918-like influenza strain and major outbreaks of three new and unusually deadly coronavirus infections: SARS, MERS and, of course, COVID-19. —Ron Barrett, Discover Magazine, 11 May 2024

The current list includes: COVID-19; Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever; Ebola virus disease and Marburg virus disease; Lassa fever; Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and SARS; Nipah and henipaviral diseases; Rift Valley fever; Zika; Disease X. 3. —Tribune News Service, Hartford Courant, 17 Jan. 2024

During his tenure in public service, Fauci helped guide public policy on HIV/AIDS, SARS, MERS, avian influenza, swine flu, Zika and Ebola. —Andrea Wurzburger, Peoplemag, 4 Dec. 2023

The first report of MERS, a disease caused by a camel coronavirus that pops up sporadically on the Arabian Peninsula, was published in 2012 by ProMED. —Helen Branswell, STAT, 28 Aug. 2023

During his tenure in public service, Fauci helped guide public policy on HIV/AIDS, SARS, MERS, avian influenza, swine flu, Zika, and Ebola. —Cara Lynn Shultz, Peoplemag, 27 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Middle East respiratory syndrome

First Known Use

2013, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing MERS

• MERS-CoV

Medical Definition

MERS

noun

ˈmərz 

: a serious viral respiratory illness that is marked by fever, cough, and shortness of breath, and that may often progress to severe pneumonia with acute respiratory distress syndrome and organ failure

Note: MERS is caused by a coronavirus (species Middle East respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus of the genus Betacoronavirus) related to the causative virus of SARS. The first cases of MERS appeared in Saudi Arabia and most cases originate from countries in or near the Arabian peninsula.

For some patients, the route of infection is completely unclear. Still, most scientists now believe that camels are the key to controlling MERS.

—Martin Enserink, Science

called also Middle East respiratory syndrome

see mers-cov