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Health warnings about MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) have been placed at 22 airports across the US, as fears over the virus grow.

Warning materials have been posted in airports including LAX, all of New York's key hubs and Orlando, Florida, and airline staff have been told to report passengers displaying potential symptoms of the virus.

The airport signs inform passengers that they should look out for telltale signs of MERS, such as a fever, cough and shortness of breath, and to see a doctor if they become ill with 14 days of visiting the affected countries.

Warning: A new advisory about MERS dislayed at Denver International Airport. Similar signs have been placed at 22 airports around the US

Fears: The MERS virus under a microscope. There have been two cases in the US so far

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said holidaymakers did not need need to change their travel plans but said they should take special precautions to help prevent contracting MERS.

Travellers are told to wash their hands frequently with soap and water, avoid touching their face and not to come into close contact with sick people.

The health advisory has been issued for people travelling to countries including Bahrain, Iraq, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the UAE and Yemen.

Airline crews have also been told to be on the lookout for passengers suffering from symptoms and report them to the authorities if they appear ill.

A second case of MERS has been diagnosed in the US after a Saudi Arabian resident visiting Florida was put into isolation in an Orlando hospital.

The first MERS patient, an Indiana man, travelled through Chicago O'Hare in late April after visiting Saudi Arabia.

The World Health Organisation said its concern over MERS had heightened in recent weeks but the disease has not yet posed a worldwide health emergency.

There have been over 500 cases of MERS so far over the last two years with almost a quarter proving fatal.

Airport health advisories are rarely placed in airports.

The last time was during the outbreak of the chikungunya virus in the Caribbean in December, 2013.

Before that, advisories were placed during the H1N1 swine flu outbreak in 2009.