Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a respiratory
illness caused by a virus (more specifically, a coronavirus) called
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) and has been
recently recognized in humans.
It was first reported in
Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since spread to several other countries,
including the United States. Most people identified as infected with
MERS-CoV developed severe acute respiratory illness, including fever,
cough and shortness of breath. Many of them have died.
So
far, all cases of MERS have been linked through travel to, or
residence in, countries in and near the Arabian Peninsula. The largest
known outbreak of MERS outside the Arabian Peninsula occurred in the
Republic of Korea in 2015. The outbreak was associated with a traveler
returning from the Arabian Peninsula.
MERS-CoV has spread
from ill people to others through close contact, such as caring for or
living with an infected person.
MERS can affect anyone.
MERS patients have ranged in age from younger than 1 to 99 years
old.
CDC continues to closely monitor the MERS situation
globally and work with partners to better understand the risks of this
virus, including the source, how it spreads and how infections might
be prevented. CDC recognizes the potential for MERS-CoV to spread
further and cause more cases globally and in the U.S. We have provided
information for travelers and are working with health departments,
hospitals and other partners to prepare for this.
County Telephone Operator 817-884-1111
Tarrant County provides the information contained in this web site as a public service. Every effort is made to ensure that information provided is correct. However, in any case where legal reliance on information contained in these pages is required, the official records of Tarrant County should be consulted. Tarrant County is not responsible for the content of, nor endorses any site which has a link from the Tarrant County web site.
This site is best experienced with supported browsers: Internet Explorer 9 and above, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari. If you use an older or unsupported browser, you might notice that some features do not function properly. Click the browser name above to learn more about the recommended browsers.
100 E. Weatherford, Fort Worth, Texas 76196
Copyright 2001-2019 Tarrant County, TX