The Centers for Disease Control and the Indiana State Department of Health are investigating the first case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in the United States. The patient is in Munster, Indiana.



MERS-CoV was first reported in the Arabian Peninsula in 2012.



MERS is caused by the coronavirus and causes severe acute respiratory illness.



Patients get a fever, cough and shortness of breath.



About half of the patients have died.

According to the Indiana State Department of Health, on April 24, the patient traveled by plane from Saudi Arabia to London to Chicago.

The patient then took a bus from Chicago to Indiana.

On April 27, the patient began experiencing shortness of breath, coughing and fever. The patient went to Community Hospital in Munster and was admitted on April 28.

The patient is isolated and is stable.

The hospital has contacted individuals who could be at risk, but says anyone who visited the Emergency Department of Community Hospital in Munster between 6:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. on April 28, should watch for signs and symptoms.

The symptoms include congestion, cough, fever over 100.4, shortness of breath, pneumonia, body aches and diarrhea.

The Indiana State Department of Health has established a hotline for Hoosiers to call with questions. The hotline will be open seven days a week until further notice from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The number is 1-877-826-0011.