MERS-CoV worldwide overview
Situation update, 5 January 2026
Since the previous update on 10 December 2025, and as of 5 January 2026, five new MERS cases (including one fatality) have been reported in Saudi Arabia with date of onset between September and December 2025. The patients reside in Makkah (2), Riyad (2) and Najran (1) regions in Saudi Arabia. All patients are adults, three of whom are over 65 years of age. Two patients had direct contact with camels and there was no known contact with camels or camel products reported by the other cases. No secondary cases have been detected so far
Since the beginning of 2025, and as of 5 January 2026, 19 MERS cases (including four fatalities) have been reported with date of onset in 2025. Among these, 17 cases (including four fatalities) have been reported in Saudi Arabia, and two imported cases have been reported in France.
Since April 2012, and as of 5 January 2025, a total of 2 647 MERS cases, including 959 deaths, have been reported by health authorities worldwide.
Distribution of confirmed MERS-CoV cases
Map
Distribution of confirmed cases of MERS by place of infection and year of onset, January 2013 – December 2025
Since the beginning of 2025, and as of 5 January 2026, 19 MERS cases (including four fatalities) have been reported with date of onset in 2025. Among these, 17 cases (including four fatalities) have been reported in Saudi Arabia, and two imported cases have been reported in France
Map
Geographical distribution of confirmed cases of MERS in Saudi Arabia by probable region of infection and exposure, with dates of onset from January 2013 to December 2025
Since the beginning of 2025, and as of 5 January 2026, 19 MERS cases (including four fatalities) have been reported with date of onset in 2025. Among these, 17 cases (including four fatalities) have been reported in Saudi Arabia, and two imported cases have been reported in France
Map
Distribution of confirmed cases of MERS by place of infection and month of onset, April 2012 – December 2025
Since April 2012, and as of 5 January 2025, a total of 2 647 MERS cases, including 959 deaths, have been reported by health authorities worldwide.
Map
Geographical distribution of confirmed cases of MERS-CoV by reporting country, April 2012 - December 2025
Since the beginning of 2025, and as of 5 January 2026, 19 MERS cases (including four fatalities) have been reported with date of onset in 2025. Among these, 17 cases (including four fatalities) have been reported in Saudi Arabia, and two imported cases have been reported in France.
ECDC assessment
Human cases of MERS continue to be reported in the Arabian Peninsula. However, the number of new cases detected and reported through surveillance has dropped to the lowest level since 2014. The probability of sustained human-to-human transmission among the general population in Europe remains very low and the impact of the disease in the general population is considered low. The current MERS situation poses a low risk to the EU/EEA, as stated in the Rapid Risk Assessment published by ECDC on 29 August 2018, which also provides details of the last person reported with the disease in Europe.