Deadly MERS Virus Returns to Europe After Decade

France has confirmed two imported cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS), marking the nation's first MERS infections since 2013. Both patients, holidaymakers who had traveled to the Arabian Peninsula in November, were identified between December 2 and 3. These cases raise concerns for Europe, still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic's impact on health services and disease monitoring.

The MERS-CoV virus, known for its high fatality rate of 37%, is primarily transmitted from dromedary camels but can spread between humans. While less contagious than SARS-CoV-2, its reappearance in Europe underscores the ongoing threat of global travel-linked transmissions. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that the virus continues to pose a threat where it circulates in camels, with regular spillover events into human populations.

French health officials acted rapidly, initiating contact tracing for 34 members of the patients' tour group. Although the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control considers ongoing transmission extremely low, the WHO cautions that MERS symptoms can be mistaken for other respiratory illnesses like influenza or COVID-19, potentially delaying diagnosis and enabling undetected spread. Strengthened surveillance and rigorous infection control measures in medical facilities are recommended, alongside advice to avoid close contact with camels and uncooked camel products.