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Shamonda virus detected in human for first time in France
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A deadly virus has been detected in humans for the first time ever, and the patient died.
Shamonda virus had previously been thought to be non-transmissable to humans, but now a case in France has shaken that belief to the core.
Shamonda virus found in humans for the first time ever
French authorities announced on Thursday that the virus had been detected in a human for the very first time, whereas it had previously been predominantly seen in cattle and other livestock.
It is insect-borne, and travels via biting midges - as mentioned, it had previously been thought non-transmissible to humans, but the French authorities have now confirmed this detection.
The foremost theory is that the patient could have been affected in eastern France, where the virus was spreading amongst livestock and other animals over the spring and summer months of 2026.
The patient has been confirmed to have died
The patient in question was already immunocompromised and died on October at the Hospices Civils de Lyon whilst being treated for a serious illness, according to the ministry of agriculture.
It said: “Clinical, biological, and epidemiological investigations are still underway.”
However, it also noted that the cerebral complications seen in this case were ‘very likely’to be linked to the Shamonda virus.
The statement continued: "Despite decades of circulation of the Shamonda virus in Africa and Asia, no human cases had been documented until now. This is therefore an exceptional case occurring in a severely immunocompromised patient,
"As a reminder, and based on current knowledge about this virus, no health risk to the general population has been identified to date.”
The virus was first detected in Nigeria back in the mid-1960s, and has since been found in animals in Japan and Africa.
It was only first seen in Europe this summer on cattle farms, according to the French authorities.
In cattle, the disease can cause sudden fevers, loose stools and abdominal pain.
It has also been noted that it can cause congenital abnormalities in calves from infected mothers, as well as cause abortions in pregnancy.
As well as cows, the disease has been found in sheep, horses, goats and alpacas.
Any farmers who spot any evidence of the virus in their animals are instructed to contact their local veterinarian for more information.
Shamonda is from the Orthobunyavirus type, belonging to the Simbu serogroup and is genetically related to the Schmallenberg virus.
It is not always fatal in cattle, and there is too little information on how the virus reacts in humans at this stage.