Manchester Royal Infirmary has shut its A&E unit after a suspected Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome outbreak. It confirmed the emergency department was closed temporarily while two patients are investigated for the condition. A hospital spokesman said: "Both patients have been isolated for ongoing clinical treatment and management of their condition." He said there was "no significant risk to public health". Manchester Royal Infirmary's A&E department "will be closed until further notice while further investigations take place," the spokesman added. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory illness that is new to humans. It was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since spread to several other countries, including the United States. Most people infected with MERS-CoV developed severe acute respiratory illness, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Many of them have died.
