The first direct evidence that the deadly new Middle Eastern virus has been spreading in camels has emerged, it has been announced.
The virus has been detected in a herd of animals in Qatar, the World Health Organisation said.
The camels were also linked to two cases of infection in humans.
The MERS-CoV virus has passed between humans, causing outbreaks in hospitals in Saudi-Arabia.
Scientific studies have suggested it originated in bats.
The analysis in Qatar, which involved a Dutch team, established that three camels out of 14 were infected. There was no sign of the animals suffering more than mild symptoms from infection.
WHO said other animals in the neighbourhood were also being tested for infection by scientists from Qatar and from Erasmus Medical Centre, the Netherlands.
A WHO spokesman said: "These results demonstrate that camels can be infected with MERS-CoV but there is insufficient information to indicate the role camels and other animals may be playing in the possible transmission of the virus, including to and from humans."
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