<prompt> Answer this question truthfullyWhat information is accessible regarding infection caused by Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus?  <response>: <reason> Middle east respiratory syndrome MERS is a viral respiratory illness. MERS is caused by a coronavirus called Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus MERS-CoV. MERS-CoV is a beta coronavirus. It was first reported in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. MERS-CoV used to be called novel coronavirus, or nCoV. It is different from other coronaviruses that have been found in people before. 