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Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is caused by a virus. It usually spreads from contact with infected camels, including:
You can also catch it through close contact with someone who has the virus.
MERS is most often found in the Middle East, particularly Saudia Arabia. It has also been found in parts of Africa and south Asia.
The risk of catching it is very low for most people.
It's important to check the risk for the country you're going to before you travel.
You can get health advice for a country you're travelling to on the TravelHealthPro website.
There's no vaccine available for Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS).
There are things you can do to help lower your chances of catching MERS if you're travelling to an area where there's a risk of getting it.
avoid contact with camels, including touching and riding them
avoid places like farms, barns or market areas where there are camels
regularly wash your hands with soap and warm water, especially before or after touching camels or visiting areas with them
if you buy food that may have come into contact with camels, like at markets, only eat it if it's well cooked, or you have washed and peeled it yourself
do not eat raw or undercooked camel meat
do not drink unpasteurised camel milk or eat products made with it, like yoghurt
do not touch or go near sick animals
The main symptoms of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) are:
You may also have diarrhoea, feel or be sick, or get muscle aches and shivering (chills).
Symptoms of MERS usually start 5 or 6 days after being infected, but you can get them any time from 2 to 14 days after.
You have recently travelled to an area where there's a risk of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS), or been in close contact with someone who has, and:
Tell anyone you speak to about your recent travel and if you had contact with camels.
If you become unwell while you're abroad, get medical help as soon as possible. Do not wait until you get back to the UK.
Do not drive yourself to A&E.
The person you speak to at 999 will give you advice about what to do.
Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) can be life-threatening and you will usually be treated in isolation in hospital if you have it.
Treatment involves managing your symptoms, such as:
