Table 1 Interim case definitions for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS‐CoV) infection (as of 14 July 2015) [3]

Probable case

An acute respiratory illness with fever and clinical, radiological, or histopathological evidence of pulmonary involvement

AND

Direct epidemiologic link with a confirmed MERS‐CoV case

AND

MERS‐CoV testing is unavailable, negative on a single inadequate specimen or inconclusive

An acute respiratory illness with fever and clinical, radiological, or histopathological evidence of pulmonary involvement

AND

The person lives in or has travelled to Middle Eastern countries or countries where MERS‐CoV is known to be circulating in dromedary camels or where human MERS‐CoV infections have recently occurred

AND

MERS‐CoV testing is inconclusive

An acute febrile respiratory illness of any severity

AND

Direct epidemiologic link with a confirmed MERS‐CoV case

AND

MERS‐CoV testing is inconclusive

Confirmed case

A person with laboratory‐confirmed MERS‐CoV infection irrespective of clinical signs and symptoms