Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made on the potential effect of MERS virus in the UK.

The risk of infection with MERS-Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) to United Kingdom residents in the UK remains very low. The risk assessment carried out by Public Health England (PHE) was last updated on 2 May and still reflects what is considered to be a very low risk for UK citizens. PHE is liaising closely with international agencies such as the World Health Organization and its emergency committee which will be considering the most recent situation.

PHE remains vigilant and closely monitors developments in the Middle East and in the rest of the world where new cases have emerged, and continues to liaise with international colleagues to assess the situation.