The French Ministry of Health on 6 December confirmed two cases of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) in travellers who had recently returned from a tour of Saudi Arabia and neighbouring Gulf states. Both patients—members of the same organised group—are hospitalised in stable condition, and no secondary transmissions have been detected.
MERS, first identified in 2012, has a mortality rate of around 34 % and is transmitted primarily through close contact with infected individuals or dromedary camels. Although outbreaks in Europe remain rare, the incident underscores continuing infectious-disease risks as international travel rebounds.
![France Confirms Two MERS Cases in Returning Tourists, Triggers Health Advisory for Middle-East Travellers]()
French border-health authorities have not imposed additional entry checks but have issued an advisory recommending that travellers returning from the Arabian Peninsula monitor their health for 14 days and seek testing if they develop fever or respiratory symptoms. Airlines operating the busy Paris-Riyadh and Paris-Jeddah routes have been asked to remind passengers of the guidance.
For mobility managers, the news may necessitate a review of pre-travel medical briefings for staff heading to the Gulf—especially those visiting livestock markets or healthcare facilities. Companies should ensure that travel-insurance policies cover hospitalisation and medical evacuation in the event of MERS infection.
The episode also serves as a broader reminder to maintain robust health-risk assessments in assignment planning. While COVID-19 protocols have been scaled back, other zoonotic diseases remain a threat, and corporate duty-of-care frameworks must evolve accordingly.
MERS, first identified in 2012, has a mortality rate of around 34 % and is transmitted primarily through close contact with infected individuals or dromedary camels. Although outbreaks in Europe remain rare, the incident underscores continuing infectious-disease risks as international travel rebounds.
French border-health authorities have not imposed additional entry checks but have issued an advisory recommending that travellers returning from the Arabian Peninsula monitor their health for 14 days and seek testing if they develop fever or respiratory symptoms. Airlines operating the busy Paris-Riyadh and Paris-Jeddah routes have been asked to remind passengers of the guidance.
For mobility managers, the news may necessitate a review of pre-travel medical briefings for staff heading to the Gulf—especially those visiting livestock markets or healthcare facilities. Companies should ensure that travel-insurance policies cover hospitalisation and medical evacuation in the event of MERS infection.
The episode also serves as a broader reminder to maintain robust health-risk assessments in assignment planning. While COVID-19 protocols have been scaled back, other zoonotic diseases remain a threat, and corporate duty-of-care frameworks must evolve accordingly.
