France Confirms Two MERS Cases in Returning Travelers: Concerns and Risks
The French Ministry of Health has confirmed two cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in individuals who recently traveled to the Arabian Peninsula. Following symptom development, both patients were hospitalized for precaution and are currently in stable condition. Contact tracing, testing, and isolation measures are underway to limit potential transmission, though no secondary spread has been detected within France. MERS-CoV, first identified in 2012, is primarily associated with camels and can cause severe respiratory illness with a high case-fatality rate, as evidenced by past outbreaks like the one in South Korea.
John Q. Hosedrinker