The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a public health alert following the first confirmed cases of the deadly Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) virus in Europe for more than a decade. Two imported infections have been detected in France.
First European Cases Since 2013
France's International Health Regulations National Focal Point officially recorded the two cases between December 2 and 3, 2025. This marks the first identification of the virus on the continent since 2013.
Both individuals are confirmed to have been travellers who visited the Arabian Peninsula in November before returning to France. The WHO stated: "All cases had been travellers exposed in the Arabian Peninsula and returning to France."
Global Threat and Ongoing Transmission
MERS-CoV, first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012, is a viral respiratory illness known to cause severe disease and has a high fatality rate. The WHO's global data for 2025 shows a concerning picture.
From the start of 2025 until December 21, a total of 19 laboratory-confirmed MERS cases, including four deaths, have been reported worldwide. The vast majority—17 cases—occurred within Saudi Arabia, across regions including Riyadh, Taif, Najran, Hail, and Hafr Al-Batin.
The global health body emphasised that the virus continues to be a threat in nations where it circulates in dromedary camels, leading to regular "spillover" into human populations.
Public Health Response and Risks
French authorities acted swiftly upon detection. "Contact tracing was initiated as soon as the first case was detected for the monitoring and surveillance of fellow travellers and co-exposed individuals, high-risk contacts, and hospital contacts," officials confirmed.
However, the WHO has warned of significant challenges in detection. The symptoms of MERS are similar to other widespread respiratory diseases like influenza or COVID-19.
This similarity means diagnosis can be delayed, particularly in countries not typically affected. Such delays create an opportunity for undetected human-to-human transmission to occur, potentially leading to further outbreaks.
Health experts urge vigilance and prompt testing for individuals with severe respiratory symptoms and a relevant travel history to the Middle East.
