Risk to EU remains low despite a slight increase in MERS-CoV cases in the Arabian Peninsula

In its latest update on the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), ECDC concludes that risk to the EU posed by the outbreak of MERS-CoV remains low.

On 30 September 2014, Austria reported a MERS-CoV case that had a recent travel history to Saudi Arabia. This latest importation to the EU is not unexpected and does not indicate a significant change in the epidemiology of the disease. Sporadic importation of MERS-CoV cases to the EU has occurred previously and remains possible. However, the risk of sustained human-to-human transmission in Europe continues to be very low.

The number of MERS-CoV cases in September and October 2014 has been slightly higher than in July and August 2014. This pattern was also observed previously. The majority of MERS-CoV cases are reported from the Arabian Peninsula, in particular from Saudi Arabia, and all cases have epidemiological links to this outbreak epicentre.

Geographical distribution of confirmed MERS-CoV cases and place of probable infection, worldwide, as of 14 October 2014 (n=896)

Distribution of confirmed cases of MERS-CoV reported September 2012–14 October 2014, by date and reporting country (n=896)

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