France confirms two MERS cases

French authorities have isolated two individuals infected with the virus that causes Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome (MERS).

These individuals were part of a tour group visiting the Arabian Peninsula, according to the health ministry.

MERS is a more deadly but less contagious variant of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which spread from China in the early 2000s.

The MERS coronavirus, responsible for the disease, is believed to originate from bats, but it is typically transmitted to humans through camels.

The two individuals, currently in stable condition at a French hospital, were on the trip together, as stated in a release from the health ministry late Wednesday.

“Management measures have been put in place to limit the risk of transmission of the virus,” it added, and no secondary cases had been found. Other people in the tour group are also being monitored.

“All measures have been put in place to limit the risk of transmission of the virus to the patients’ entourage and to healthcare staff,” the ministry added.

These measures included “contact tracing, barrier gestures, screening, isolation and procedures to follow in case of the appearance of symptoms, even moderate ones,” it said.

MERS has killed 958 people from 2,640 reported cases between 2012 and November this year, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. These were mostly in Saudi Arabia.

The disease causes symptoms similar to Covid-19 — fever, coughing and breathing difficulties.

The ministry said that human transmission was “rare” but “possible through direct or indirect contact, through respiratory droplets and occasionally through the air”.

France had previously reported two cases, in 2013, the ministry said.

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