The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a significant alert regarding the resurgence of the Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). As of December 21, 2025, the WHO reported a total of 19 confirmed cases worldwide, resulting in four fatalities. Of these, 17 cases were reported in Saudi Arabia, while the remaining two were identified in France. This warning comes at a time when adenovirus infections are also surging globally.
The WHO’s recent update highlighted that from June 4 to December 21, 2025, the Ministry of Health of Saudi Arabia reported seven cases of MERS-CoV, including two deaths. Although the overall risk assessment remains “moderate” at both global and regional levels, the agency emphasized that these incidents indicate a persistent threat in certain areas. MERS-CoV primarily infects dromedary camels, with occasional transmission to humans.
In addition to the MERS-CoV warning, researchers have identified a new bat-borne coronavirus in Brazil. The implications of this discovery for human health remain uncertain. Symptoms associated with MERS include fever, cough, shortness of breath, diarrhea, and vomiting, and the virus can be fatal, especially in severe cases. Currently, no vaccine exists for MERS.
New Discoveries Raise Concerns
Collaboration between researchers from São Paulo and Ceará in Brazil and colleagues at Hong Kong University led to the identification of this novel coronavirus. The virus shares striking similarities with MERS-CoV, which was first detected in 2012 in Saudi Arabia and has since resulted in over 850 deaths across more than two dozen countries.
PhD candidate Bruna Stefanie, who contributed to the research, noted: “Right now we aren’t sure it can infect humans, but we detected parts of the virus’s spike protein, suggesting potential interaction with the receptor used by MERS-CoV.” The findings, published in the Journal of Medical Virology, examined a collection of 423 bats from 16 different species. Researchers collected samples from the bats and discovered the new coronavirus in an insect-eating bat, raising alarm among the scientific community.
The study revealed that the new virus exhibits a remarkable 72% genetic similarity to the MERS-CoV genome. Of particular concern is the spike protein of this new virus, which showed a 71.74% similarity to the spike protein of MERS-CoV, the component responsible for binding to host cells.
As health authorities monitor the situation, medical professionals are advising increased vigilance among both adults and children for any signs of respiratory illness. The WHO’s alert serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges posed by coronaviruses, underscoring the need for continued research and public health preparedness.
