MERS

\ ˈmərz

Definition of MERS

: 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

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about MERS

Dictionary Entries near MERS

Statistics for MERS

Last Updated

16 Mar 2020

Cite this Entry

“MERS.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/MERS. Accessed 23 Mar. 2020.

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for MERS

MERS

noun

\ ˈmərz

Medical Definition of MERS

: 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 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, 13 June 2014

— called also Middle East respiratory syndrome