France has confirmed two cases of MERS-CoV, the first cases in the country in 12 years. Both patients are 70-year-old men who are being treated in hospitals in Lyon and in the south-west of France. Their condition is stable and they are hospitalized as a precaution. Both cases are associated with travel to the Arabian Peninsula. One patient had a brief worsening of symptoms, both initially had mild cold-like symptoms. Authorities have introduced contact tracing, isolation, testing and barrier measures, including health workers. The aim is to limit the risk of further transmission of the virus.