mers

noun

1. (form-of, plural)plural of mer
2. (abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, uncountable)Acronym of Middle East respiratory syndrome.

   “Coronaviruses are worrying because epidemics caused by other members of the viral family, SARS and MERS, have had high death rates: 10 percent for SARS, and about 35 percent for MERS.”

   ““Even the researchers themselves point out that this should not cause panic,” said Roess, a professor of global health and epidemiology at George Mason University’s College of Public Health who has worked with international colleagues to better understand the MERS coronavirus.”

3. (broadly, uncountable)Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus

   “Because MERS is a virus, antibiotics are ineffective.”

   “Mers is a virus that is transmitted from animals to humans.”

   “MERS is a coronavirus for which there is no cure.”

4. (abbreviation, acronym, alt-of, uncountable)Acronym of Middle East respiratory syndrome, also MERS.

   “Coronaviruses have been causing problems for humanity for a long time. Several versions are known to trigger common colds and more recently two types have set off outbreaks of deadly illnesses: severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (Mers).”