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First called Novel corona virus 2012 or simply novel corona virus, it was first reported in June, 2012 after genome sequencing of a virus isolated from sputum samples from patients who fell ill in a 2012 outbreak of a new flu.
As of 2 May 2014, MERS-CoV cases have been reported in several countries, including Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Jordan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, the Philippines, and the United States. The official WHO MERS count is 238 as of 27 April 2014; there are 339 confirmed cases in Saudi Arabia, with 102 deaths. The first case of MERS-Cov in the United States was reported in India on 2 May 2014.
Natural Reservoir:
Early research suggested the virus is related to one found in the Egyptian Tomb Bat and Dromedary Camel.
Origin:
The first confirmed case was reported in a 60-year-old male patient with acute pneumonia and acute renal failure, who passed away in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on 24 June 2012. Egyptian virologist Dr. Ali Mohamed Zaki isolated and identified a previously unknown corona virus from the man’s lungs. Dr. Zaki then posted his findings on 24 September 2012 on ProMED-mail. The isolated cells showed cytopathic effects (CPE), in the form of rounding and syncetia formation.
A second case was found in September 2012. A 49 year old male living in Qatar, presented similar flu symptoms, and a sequence of the virus was nearly identical to that of the first case. In Nov 2012, similar cases in Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Additional cases were noted, with deaths associated and rapid research and monitoring of this novel corona virus began.
Nature of MERS-CoV Virus:
The virus MERS-CoV is a new member of the beta group of corona virus, Betacoronavirus, lineage C. MERS-CoV genomes are phylogenetically classified into two clades, clade A and B. The earliest cases of MERS were of clade a clusters 2012 and 2013, and new cases are genetically distinct (clade B).
A study by Ziad Memish of Riyadh University and colleagues suggests that the virus arose sometime between July 2007 and June 2012, with perhaps as many as 7 separate zoonotic transmissions. Among animal reservoirs, CoV has a large genetic diversity yet the samples from patients suggest a similar genome, and therefore common source, though the data are limited.
References: Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Corona Virus (Mers-Cov) : Wikipedia
