Coronavirus infection

Coronaviruses are widespread and can cause generally mild illnesses in humans. However, three of them have led to serious epidemics: SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2.

Our Mission

  • Identify any new cases of infection as early as possible

  • Notify healthcare professionals

  • Inform the public

In brief

Videos, infographics, key statistics, expert interviews… Find the latest news and key information on the coronavirus here

MERS-CoV-related infections

Download surveillance tools and documents: case definitions, questionnaires for suspected, probable, or confirmed cases

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FILE

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

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The disease

Coronaviruses: A Huge Family of Viruses

Coronaviruses form a vast family of viruses. There are many coronaviruses that primarily infect animals. However, these viruses can sometimes cause infections in humans, most often associated with mild colds and flu-like symptoms, but they can also cause...

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What We Do

The importation of MERS-CoV cases into Europe is possible due to the regular occurrence of new cases in the Arabian Peninsula and significant travel between that region and Europe, particularly via air travel. The possibility of person-to-person transmission of MERS-CoV, particularly in...

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Data

A marked decline in the detection of human cases of MERS-CoV infection has been observed since 2020

According to the WHO and the ECDC, the number of confirmed cases of MERS-CoV infection reported internationally stood at 2,640 as of early November 2025, with 36% resulting in death. The...

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Tools

Here you will find the resources (videos, TV spots, radio spots) and prevention materials made available to healthcare professionals and the general public

Publications

Here you will find the latest scientific publications related to the studies and research conducted by Santé publique France.

2 publications