France has confirmed its first cases of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in more than a decade, raising fresh concerns about global infectious disease threats. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reported a total of 19 laboratory-confirmed cases globally in 2025, including four fatalities.
Imported Cases Trigger European Alert
France's International Health Regulations National Focal Point documented two imported cases between 2 and 3 December. The infected individuals were holidaymakers who had travelled to the Arabian Peninsula in November. The WHO confirmed that all cases were travellers exposed in that region before returning to France.
These represent the nation's first MERS infections since 2013, bringing France's total historical count to four verified cases, which includes one previous death. The recent patients, both men in their 70s, were placed under careful observation as health officials worked to prevent any potential outbreak.
A Global Picture of a Persistent Threat
According to the WHO, from the beginning of 2025 up to 21 December, the 19 global cases and four deaths were reported. Seventeen of these cases originated in Saudi Arabia, with infections recorded in areas including Riyadh, Taif, Najran, Hail, and Hafr Al-Batin. No epidemiological links were found between these Saudi cases.
The virus's appearance in Europe and North America this month underscores the persistent danger of international travel facilitating the spread of pathogens. MERS-CoV, a coronavirus with a fatality rate of approximately 37%, is significantly more lethal than SARS-CoV-2, though it transmits less easily between humans. It is primarily transmitted from infected dromedary camels and has previously caused serious hospital outbreaks, most notably in South Korea in 2015, which resulted in 38 deaths.
Swift Response and Ongoing Vigilance
French health authorities acted rapidly to contain the threat. Contact tracing was initiated immediately after the first case was detected, focusing on fellow travellers, co-exposed individuals, high-risk contacts, and hospital staff. This involved tracking down all 34 members of the patients' tour group.
By 19 December, no secondary cases had been identified. Genetic sequencing confirmed that the virus strain was consistent with variants circulating in the Arabian Peninsula. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has assessed the risk of ongoing transmission within Europe as extremely low.
Learning from Past Pandemics
For a continent still recovering from the profound impact of Covid-19, these imported cases serve as a stark reminder of the ever-present threat of zoonotic diseases. The WHO warns that the similarity of MERS symptoms to other common respiratory illnesses like influenza or Covid-19 could lead to delayed detection, especially in unaffected countries, potentially allowing undetected human-to-human transmission.
Drawing on lessons from the recent pandemic, the WHO recommends strengthened surveillance with immediate notification of all suspected and confirmed cases, alongside rigorous infection control in healthcare settings. It also advises the public to avoid raw camel products and close contact with dromedaries, particularly for individuals with underlying health conditions visiting farms or markets where the virus may be present.
With no specific vaccine or treatment currently available, and the global risk level assessed as "moderate", the emergence of MERS in Europe highlights the fragility of the post-Covid recovery. As international travel continues to rebound, health authorities worldwide are reinforcing safeguards to prevent another coronavirus crisis.
