France has confirmed its initial instances of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in more than ten years, leading to immediate concerns about a new infectious risk in a continent still grappling with the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. The two imported cases, reported between December 2 and 3 by France’s International Health Regulations National Focal Point, involved travelers who had visited the Arabian Peninsula in November.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has verified that “All cases were individuals who had traveled to the Arabian Peninsula and returned to France.”
These mark France’s first MERS infections since 2013, bringing the country’s total to four confirmed cases, including one death. Globally, the WHO reports that “From the start of 2025 until December 21, 2025, a total of 19 cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), with four fatalities, have been communicated to WHO worldwide.”
Of these cases, 17 originated in Saudi Arabia across regions such as Riyadh, Taif, Najran, Hail, and Hafr Al-Batin, with no identified epidemiological links between them. The recent appearance of the virus in Europe and North America this month underscores the ongoing risk of transmission linked to international travel.
MERS-CoV, a coronavirus with a concerning fatality rate of 37%, is notably more lethal than SARS-CoV-2, though it spreads less efficiently among individuals. Mainly transmitted from infected dromedary camels, it has triggered outbreaks in hospitals, including the 2015 crisis in South Korea that claimed 38 lives, as documented by the Express.
The WHO cautions that “These cases demonstrate that the virus remains a threat in regions where it is present in dromedary camels, with regular spillover into the human population.”
For a Europe still recovering from the devastating impact of Covid-19, which exposed vulnerabilities in disease surveillance, border control, and healthcare systems, these imported cases evoke unsettling memories of how rapidly viruses can propagate. The two French patients, both in their seventies, were closely monitored while authorities worked to prevent any potential outbreak.
French health authorities acted promptly: “Contact tracing commenced immediately upon the identification of the first case for monitoring and surveillance of fellow travelers and co-exposed individuals, high-risk contacts, and hospital contacts.”
This involved locating the 34 members of the patients’ tour group. As of December 19, no additional cases had been identified, and genetic analysis indicated that the strain was consistent with those found in the Arabian Peninsula.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) assesses the likelihood of ongoing transmission as extremely low, yet the WHO warns that “Given the similarity of symptoms with other widely circulating respiratory illnesses like influenza or COVID-19, the detection and diagnosis of MERS cases could be delayed, especially in unaffected countries, allowing for undetected human-to-human transmission.”
Drawing lessons from the Covid pandemic, the WHO advises reinforcing surveillance with immediate reporting of all suspected and confirmed cases, alongside strict infection control measures in healthcare settings.
It encourages individuals to avoid consuming raw camel products and to maintain a safe distance from the animals, stating: “People with underlying medical conditions should refrain from close contact with animals, particularly dromedaries, when in farms, markets, or areas where the virus may be present.”
With no vaccine or specific treatment available, and with a global risk level assessed as “moderate,” the emergence of this persistent virus in Europe underscores the fragility of the post-Covid recovery. As holiday bookings surge, health authorities are intensifying precautions to prevent another coronavirus crisis.