Genomic sequencing and analysis of the first imported Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus （MERS CoV） in China

Dear Editors, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome （MERS） has spread to more than 23 countries since the first case of a MERS coronavirus （MERS CoV） infection was confirmed in Sep 2012 [1]. Because MERS CoV has led to mortality as high as 40%, it has become one of the most important emerging pathogens threatening human health. Recently, the outbreak of MERS CoV, which resulted in 172 infections and 27 deaths in South Korea, was the largest outside Saudi Arabia. A 44-year-old man, had been exposed to the first confirmed MERS case who shared a ward with the man＇s father in this outbreak, travelled from South Korea to China, becoming the first imported MERS case reported in China. Here, we report the sequencing and analysis of the MERS CoV ge- nome from this case. Viral genome sequencing provides information vital to tracing the pathogenic source, predict- ing viral virulence, and following the pattern of viral evolution, variation, and transmission [2-4].