A novel coronavirus ( CoV ) <*> emerged in the Middle East region in 2012 .
This virus , <*> is phylogenetically related to bat CoVs ,
A novel coronavirus ( CoV ) that causes a severe lower respiratory tract infection in humans , emerged in the Middle East region in 2012 .
This virus , named Middle East respiratory syndrome ( MERS)-CoV , is phylogenetically related to bat CoVs , but other animal species like dromedary camels may potentially act as intermediate hosts by spreading the virus to humans .