What is the MERS outbreak in South Korea?

TheConversation: Twelve years ago the world was threatened by an outbreak of a new coronavirus called SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome). SARS infected more than 8,000 people and killed one in ten of those infected. In 2012 and 2013, a second coronavirus emerged in Saudi Arabia and was named MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome). The MERS virus is a beta-coronavirus (MERS-CoV), which belongs to the same family as SARS but has some novel biological features.

Researchers successfully target 'Achilles' heel' of MERS virus

Purdue: A Purdue University-led team of researchers studying the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, have found molecules that shut down the activity of an essential enzyme in the virus and could lead the way to better treatments for those infected. The virus is in the international spotlight again as South Korea faces the largest MERS outbreak outside the Middle East. More than 2,800 people have been quarantined during the outbreak. The World Health Organization reported 19 deaths and 154 confirmed cases in its most recent update.

MERS-CoV in the Republic of Korea: risk for importation remains, but low risk for spread within Europe

WHO: Republic of Korea reports the largest MERS-CoV outbreak outside the Arabian PeninsulaThe outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in the Republic of Korea continues to unfold since the first case was reported on 20 May 2015. While the occurrence of such a large outbreak outside the Middle East is a new development, there is currently no indication that the virus is behaving differently than elsewhere. Like previous outbreaks, the outbreak in the Republic of Korea is associated with transmission in the health care setting and among close family contacts; so far, there is no evidence of sustained community transmission. Therefore, the overall pattern of infection observed previously remains unchanged.