The first International Diagnostic Training Workshop on MERS coronavirus (MERS-CoV) has taken place in Dubai from 14 to 16 December 2015.

The workshop was jointly organized by the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, the Ministry of Health and the Central Veterinary Research Laboratory of the United Arab Emirates, as well as the Universities of Bonn and Hong Kong. Forty participants from 18 countries of the region took part in the workshop.     

The workshop aimed at introducing established MERS-CoV diagnostic assays to reference laboratories from potentially MERS-affected regions. The workshop was concluded with very useful recommendations such as the introduction of a surveillance system, further collaboration on scientific research and deepened cooperation with all related sectors.