MERS-CoV worldwide overview

Situation update, 10 December 2025

Since the previous update on 3 November 2025, and as of 10 December 2025, two new imported MERS cases have been reported in France. The patients were part of the same travel group who visited the Arabian Peninsula. No secondary cases have been detected so far. The previous MERS cases in the EU were reported in 2014.

Since the beginning of 2025, and as of 10 December 2025, 14 MERS cases (including three fatalities) have been reported with date of onset in 2025. Among these, 12 cases (including three fatalities) have been reported in Saudi Arabia, and two imported cases have been reported in France.

Since April 2012, and as of 10 December 2025, a total of 2 642 cases of MERS, including 958 deaths, have been reported by health authorities worldwide.

Distribution of confirmed MERS-CoV cases

ECDC assessment

Human cases of MERS continue to be reported in the Arabian Peninsula. However, the number of new cases detected and reported through surveillance has dropped to the lowest level since 2014. The probability of sustained human-to-human transmission among the general population in Europe remains very low and the impact of the disease in the general population is considered low. The current MERS situation poses a low risk to the EU/EEA, as stated in the Rapid Risk Assessment published by ECDC on 29 August 2018, which also provides details of the last person reported with the disease in Europe.