MERS

noun \ 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 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.

Origin and Etymology of mers

Middle East respiratory syndrome

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 2003

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Medical Dictionary

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

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