MERS imported to France: a wake-up call to revamp preparedness, control, and research

The reports of two imported cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in France in December 2025, 1 along with the 14 cases reported in Saudi Arabia earlier in 2025, are reminders of the need to keep MERS under scrutiny.Although the pandemic potential of MERS-CoV is thought to be limited, the fluctuating pattern of cases and the simmering threat of the infection highlight why we should enhance research and control efforts.