2018 mers outbreak 2018 mers outbreak the 2018 middle east respiratory syndrome outbreak was a set of infections of middle east respiratory syndrome (mers-cov). the cases were most numerous in, and are believed to have originated from, saudi arabia. 2018 middle east respiratory syndrome outbreakliverpoolseoulnew york city confirmed mers cases suspected mers casesdate23 august 2018 – nowlocationconfirmed cases: saudi arabia, united kingdom, south korea suspected cases: united states casualties confirmed cases: 193 suspected cases: ~150 deaths: 56 coronaviruses types alphacoronavirus betacoronavirus gammacoronavirus deltacoronavirus diseases common cold sars mers covid-19 vaccines covid-19 vaccine epidemics and pandemics sars (2002–2004) mers 2012 2015 2018 covid-19 (2019-present)