Health authorities in France have documented the first known human infection with Shamonda virus (Shav), a pathogen that has historically affected livestock. The patient, who was severely immunocompromised, died in early October and was being treated at a hospital in Lyon when neurological complications developed that officials believe were closely associated with the viral infection.
Shav primarily infects cattle and is transmitted through the bites of infected midges. While the virus has been documented in sheep, goats, alpacas, and horses, human cases had not previously been recorded. French health and agriculture ministries indicated that the patient likely contracted the virus through a midge bite in eastern France, where animal cases were first identified in the spring. Officials emphasized that the patient’s weakened immune system made them unusually susceptible to severe illness from the virus.
The World Health Organization confirmed this represents the first documented human case of Shamonda virus. While the WHO has not yet completed a formal risk assessment, it indicated that available information and knowledge of comparable diseases suggest the infection appears to be an isolated incident unlikely to result in broader transmission. The organization noted that midge-borne viruses typically show reduced transmissibility during colder months.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control stated it is collaborating with French and European partners to examine potential public health implications. Animal cases of the virus were first detected in Europe in late July and have since been identified in farm animals across multiple countries, including Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Jersey. Despite decades of circulation in Africa and Asia, Shamonda virus was previously considered non-transmissible to humans.
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