Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus is a coronavirus with elevated pandemic potential, similar to Sudden Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) virus.  There have been at least 500 confirmed cases worldwide, resulting in at least 171 deaths. 

Until recently, all infected people in the United States had traveled to the Middle East prior to contracting the infection.  On May 16, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the first case of US transmission, in a businessman who took a face-to-face meeting with a man from Indiana who had recently contracted the infection during a trip to Saudi Arabia.  

Companies interested in seeing if their product can kill MERS virus should contact Antimicrobial Test Laboratories at 512-310-8378.