The threat of another pandemic due to coronaviruses is likely due to their genetic diversity, and rapid mutations and hence deserves continual attention.

MERS-CoV was first identified as a cause of zoonotic disease in 2012 in dromedary camels and continues to circulate in camels and cause disease in humans.

It can cause Middle East respiratory syndrome, which has led to 2609 human cases and 939 reported deaths since its recognition, mostly in Saudi Arabia.

Despite not having caused a large epidemic so far, it has the potential for a future outbreak due to ongoing zoonotic transmission and circulation among camels in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia.

The major concern is the evolution of new lineages, which can result in efficient human-to-human transmission.

Many new strains can infect human cells via the DPP4 receptor (the MERS-CoV host cell receptor) or ACE2 (SARS-CoV receptor).

Hence, it is prudent to be attentive to newly identified MERS-like coronaviruses isolated from animals such as bats, pangolins, and European hedgehogs.