Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, is a viral respiratory illness. This virus spreads from secretions through coughing and when healthy people come in contact with a person ill due to MERS. Symptoms of this illness include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. For many individuals, these symptoms turn to more severe health problems including kidney failure and pneumonia. A majority of those individuals who die because of MERS had an underlying medical condition. Individuals with underlying medical conditions are generally more likely to develop MERS. Those with weakened immune systems are more likely to have a severe case of MERS. There is currently no vaccine or antiviral treatment to prevent or treat this illness.