Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is caused by MERS coronavirus (MERS­-CoV). Most people with confirmed MERS-­CoV infection develop to severe acute respiratory syndrome, and the severe patients may progress to kidney failure resulting in death. MERS was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. So far, all the cases have been linked to over 20 countries in and near the Arabian Peninsula, which poses a great threat to global public health. Here the research progress on MERS clinical control is summarized.