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Disease groups:
At a glance
- No vaccine available – read more about prevention
- Nationally notifiable disease
About MERS
MERS is a rare but serious respiratory infection caused by a coronavirus called Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV).
It usually spreads to people from infected camels.
Why it matters to public health
MERS is a serious illness. About 1 in 3 people diagnosed with MERS die. There is currently no vaccine against MERS.
It’s uncommon for MERS to spread between people. When it has happened, it’s usually been in homes or hospitals. Strict infection control is essential when MERS is suspected in health care facilities.
Though outbreaks have occurred outside of the Middle East, every person who has been diagnosed with MERS has lived in, travelled to, or been linked to a case from the Middle East.
The virus has never been detected in people or camels in Australia.
Because of how serious MERS can be, it is a Listed Human Disease. This means the Australian Government can use special powers to stop it from entering the country and respond quickly if it’s detected.
Symptoms
If you’re looking for advice about your own health or treatment options, see healthdirect or speak with a qualified healthcare professional. Our role is to provide public health advice – information and guidance that helps prevent disease, protect communities and improve wellbeing at a population level.
Most people diagnosed with MERS develop pneumonia and severe respiratory illness.
Some people have no or mild symptoms, so might not get tested or diagnosed.
Symptoms of MERS can include:
- fever (often with chills or shakes)
- cough, and sometimes coughing up blood
- shortness of breath
- muscle pain
- diarrhoea
- nausea
- vomiting
- abdominal pain.
Serious complications can include:
- respiratory failure
- septic shock
- multi-organ failure.
Read more about the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of MERS.
healthdirect’s symptom checker can help you decide whether to see a health professional.
Onset of symptoms
Symptoms usually start 5 days after infection, but this can range from 2 to 14 days.
How it spreads
MERS-CoV is known to infect camels in some parts of the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Central Asia.
MERS can spread to people through:
- contact with infected dromedary (one-humped) camels or their meat, milk or urine – camels may be able to infect people even if they appear healthy.
- close contact with an infected person – for example, when caring for a sick person without appropriate infection prevention and control measures in place.
Infectious period
It is not known how long people with MERS are infectious.
Prevention
There is no vaccine against MERS.
For people travelling to the Middle East and other areas impacted by MERS, the best protection is to:
- avoid contact with camels
- not consume raw camel milk or undercooked camel meat
- avoid close contact with people who are unwell, if possible
- wash your hands regularly, especially after touching camels or their meat, milk or urine.
Read more ways to:
Priority groups and settings
Some people are at greater risk of getting MERS or getting very sick from it.
People at greater risk of severe disease
MERS poses a greater risk of severe illness for people who:
- are older
- are immunocompromised
- have some chronic conditions.
People at greater risk of exposure
People are at greater risk of being exposed if they are in the Middle East and:
- have contact with camels or their meat, milk or urine
- work in or visit a hospital.
People who have contact with travellers to the Middle East who have had a respiratory illness or fever might also be at higher risk of exposure to MERS.
Diagnosis and treatment
MERS can only be diagnosed through specialised laboratory testing of:
- a swab from the nose or back of the throat (or both)
- fluid from the lungs.
You can use healthdirect’s directory to find a health service near you.
There is no specific treatment for MERS. Most people with MERS receive supportive care in hospital.
Read more about how to manage or treat MERS.
Surveillance and reporting
MERS is a nationally notifiable disease – these are diseases that present a risk to public health.
Health authorities in each state and territory report cases to us through the National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.
This is part of surveillance activities to monitor case numbers globally.
Outbreaks
MERS-CoV has never been detected in Australia.
If a person in Australia was suspected or confirmed to have MERS, the public health response would include:
- isolating people with (or suspected of having) MERS
- identifying and monitoring contacts of people with MERS
- educating people about how to protect themselves and others
- working with animal health authorities, if needed.
Read more about how the Australian Government defines and plans for outbreaks.
Support
For information in your state or territory, see:
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria
- Western Australia.
If you need mental health support, see a list of organisations, websites and services that offer support, counselling and information.
For travel advice, see: