The WHO has reported Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS- CoV) cases in Saudi Arabia and France, with the virus known to infect camels and spillover to humans
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a stark warning in relation to a “respiratory syndrome coronavirus” after an uptick of cases. As of December 21, 19 cases of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS- CoV) were reported to the international health agency, including 4 deaths.
17 of these cases originated in Saudi Arabia, and two were from France. It comes after cases of adenovirus continue to rise across the globe and, though most bouts are mild, medics are urging both adults and children to be aware of the signs and symptoms.
In an update, the WHO said: “Between 4 June and 21 December 2025, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of KSA reported a total of seven cases of MERS-CoV infection, including two deaths.”
While these cases “do not change the overall risk assessment which remains moderate at both the global and regional levels”, they show that the virus is still a threat in certain countries. The virus is known to infect dromedary camels, with regular spillover into the human population. It comes as experts have discovered a new bat-borne coronavirus in Brazil – however the virus’ effect on humans remains a mystery.
Symptoms of MERS include fevers, coughing, shortness of breath, diarrhoea and vomiting, and the virus can be fatal in severe cases. Currently there is no vaccine for the virus MERS.
The new Coronavirus was discovered by researchers from São Paulo and Ceará working alongside colleagues from Hong Kong University (HKU).
This new coronavirus has similarities to the deadly Mers virus which was first discovered in 2012 in Saudi Arabia. Since the virus’ discovery it has led to over 850 deaths and has had cases reported in more than two dozen countries.
The author of a recent study on the virus, PhD candidate Bruna Stefanie, remarked: “Right now we aren’t sure it can infect humans, but we detected parts of the virus’s spike protein [which binds to mammalian cells to start an infection] suggesting potential interaction with the receptor used by Mers-CoV.”
The study, published in the Journal of Medical Virology (JMV), screened a massive total of 423 bats from a vast 16 different bat species.
The bats were checked with oral and rectal swabs and an insect-eating bat was discovered with the novel coronavirus which have experts concerned.
Researchers in the study observed the new virus had high similarities to the Mers-related coronavirus strains found both in humans and camels. In the study experts noted the new coronavirus discovered in 72% similarity to the Mers-CoV genome.
Worryingly, the spike protein of the new virus – the protein that attaches itself to the host cell – shared a concerning 71.74% similarity with the Mers virus spike protein.
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