The first known human case of the Shamonda virus (Shav) has been reported in France, where a patient died in early October, according to authorities. Health officials described the case as “exceptional” due to the patient’s severely weakened immune system, stating there is currently no risk to the public.
Shav primarily affects cattle and can be transmitted by infected midges. While it has also been found in sheep, goats, alpacas, and horses, this is the first recorded infection in humans.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) are monitoring the situation, as French officials investigate how the virus reached a human. They believe the patient likely contracted the virus from a midge bite in eastern France, where infections in animals were first noticed in the spring.
The patient was receiving treatment for a serious illness at a hospital in Lyon and experienced neurological issues, which are thought to be strongly linked to the virus based on initial findings. Officials highlighted that the individual’s compromised immune system made them more susceptible to illness.
Until now, Shamonda virus was regarded as non-transmissible to humans, having only existed in animals despite being known in Africa and Asia for decades. Infected dairy herds typically show symptoms like fever, diarrhoea, and reduced milk production.
The WHO confirmed that this is the first documented human case of Shav, noting that it has yet to conduct a formal risk assessment but believes the case is isolated and unlikely to spread further. They pointed out that the ability of midge-borne viruses to transmit usually drops in colder months.
The ECDC is collaborating with French and European partners to assess the potential public health implications of this infection. The initial cases of the virus in Europe were identified in late July and have since appeared in several countries, including Ireland, Germany, Italy, and Spain, along with Jersey.
