Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) is a viral respiratory disease caused by a novel coronavirus. The first case of MERS was reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012. As of 17 July 2015, 1 368 laboratory-confirmed cases (490 deaths; mortality 35.82%) have been reported to World Health Organization (WHO). Since the first case reported on 20 May 2015, and as of 19 July, Republic of Korea has reported 186 confirmed MERS cases, including one case exported to China. Considering the continuous personnel exchanges between China and the Middle East Area, Republic of Korea, the possibility cannot be ruled out that imported MERS cases could emerge again in China. This review elaborates the epidemic characteristics and strategies of prevention and control of MERS.