#France, Two imported cases of MERS-CoV identified on national territory (Min. Santé, Dec. 4 '25)

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The Ministry of Health, Families, Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities and Public Health France have been informed of two cases of MERS-CoV in France.

These two cases were confirmed following suggestive symptoms and a history of shared travel to the Arabian Peninsula.

Management measures have been implemented to limit the risk of virus transmission.

Stéphanie Rist, Minister of Health, Families, Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities, confirms: “These patients are being monitored in hospital as a precautionary measure and their condition is stable. All management measures have been put in place to limit the risk of transmission of the virus to the patients' contacts and healthcare staff: contact tracing to offer them follow-up, barrier gestures, testing, isolation and procedures to follow in case of the appearance of symptoms, even mild ones.”

These two cases occurred in individuals who had participated in the same trip, but no secondary transmission chains have been identified within the country at this stage.

The other individuals who participated in the trip have also been monitored since the identification of the first confirmed case.

If you experience these symptoms and have recently traveled to these areas and/or have been in contact with people who have experienced these symptoms, do not hesitate to consult your doctor.

What is MERS-CoV?

MERS-CoV (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus) is a virus that was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and is primarily transmitted from animals to humans . The virus is endemic to dromedary camels and bats in the Arabian Peninsula and parts of Africa. It is transmitted through direct or indirect contact (consumption of raw or contaminated animal products).

Although rare, human-to-human transmission is possible through direct or indirect contact, via respiratory droplets, and occasionally through the air. This mainly concerns healthcare workers performing medical procedures when treating cases, or people living in the same household. The risk of human-to-human transmission in the general population is low . The incubation period is 5 to 15 days.

The symptoms of the disease are nonspecific: fever, cough, difficulty breathing, and sometimes gastrointestinal problems. Treatment is based on addressing these symptoms.

Epidemiological data on MERS-CoV

In France, until now only two cases had been recorded in 2013: the first in a traveler returning from abroad, the second in a patient who shared a hospital room with that person. Since 2012 and as of November 3, 2025, 2,640 cases of MERS-CoV have been recorded worldwide.

To learn more:

Pasteur Institute

· World Health Organization

· European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC)

Press contacts:

Secretariat of Ariane Vincent, Press and Communication Advisor,

Ministry of Health, Families, Autonomy and Persons with Disabilities.

Office of Ms. Stéphanie Rist.

Tel: +33 1 87 05 97 89.

Email: sec.presse.sfaph@sante.gouv.fr

Public Health France:

Email: presse@santepubliquefrance.fr

Source:

Link: https://sante.gouv.fr/actualites-presse/presse/communiques-de-presse/article/deux-cas-de-mers-cov-de-retour-de-l-etranger-identifies-sur-le-territoire

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