Home · World · Oct 22 archive
First human case of Shamonda virus detected in France, officials say
· Confirmed
In Short: The Shamonda virus, an orthobunyavirus primarily carried and spread by insects, has also been detected in other animals, including horses, sheep, goats, and alpacas, according to Open Magazine and This is the Coast (United Kingdom).
French health authorities have confirmed the first human case of the Shamonda virus, a livestock pathogen, after a patient died in early October at a hospital in Lyon, according to Al Jazeera (Qatar) and The Jerusalem Post (Israel).
The Jerusalem Post (Israel) reported that the patient was severely immunocompromised and being treated for a serious illness, while Al Jazeera (Qatar) noted that the virus was detected in a patient who died at the hospital.
Both outlets stated that the virus was first identified in Europe in late July after genomic tests on sick cattle in southern Germany, Switzerland, and eastern France.
Arabnews (Saudi Arabia) and This is the Coast (United Kingdom) also reported that the virus was detected in a severely immunocompromised patient who died, emphasizing that the virus was previously considered non-transmissible to humans.
According to Arabnews (Saudi Arabia), the patient was likely infected through a midge bite in eastern France, where the virus had been circulating among animals during spring and summer.
This is the Coast (United Kingdom) added that the virus had also been detected in Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and the United Kingdom’s Jersey.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have been notified of the case, as reported by BBC (United Kingdom) and The Jerusalem Post (Israel).
Health officials stated that there is currently no risk to the general public, but investigations are ongoing to determine if the virus caused or contributed to the patient’s death.
Scientists have not yet identified which species of midge is responsible for spreading the virus in the current European outbreak, as noted by the Irish Independent (Ireland).
The virus typically affects livestock, causing fever, diarrhea, and poor milk production, as reported by BBC (United Kingdom) and This is the Coast (United Kingdom).
French authorities have stated that clinical, biological, and epidemiological investigations are continuing in conjunction with expertise in human, animal, and environmental health, as noted by Al Jazeera (Qatar).
Background
The Shamonda virus was first confirmed in Europe in late July after genomic tests on sick cattle in southern Germany, Switzerland, and eastern France.
What's confirmed
- The French announcement said the leading hypothesis was that the patient was infected in eastern France, where the virus had circulated among animals this spring and summer.
- Shamonda is an orthobunyavirus – a group of viruses primarily carried and spread by insects – transmitted to animals, mainly cattle, by biting midges of the genus Culicoides.
- Shamonda was first confirmed in Europe in late July after genomic tests on sick cattle in southern Germany, Switzerland and eastern France.
- Until now, the virus was considered non-transferable to humans, making the patient the first documented human case.
- A report from France’s weekly animal health surveillance bulletin said the virus had also been detected in Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and the United Kingdom’s Jersey.
- French authorities have confirmed that a patient who died at a Lyon hospital earlier in October was infected with the Shamonda virus, the first such report of the virus in a human.
- Shamonda virus mostly affects livestock, in whom it can cause fever, diarrhoea and poor milk production The first known human case of the Shamonda virus (Shav) has been detected in a patient who died in early October, French authorities have said.
- "Until now, the Shamonda virus was considered non-transmissible to humans," it noted, having only been identified in animals "despite decades of circulation of the Shamonda virus in Africa and Asia".
- The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said it was monitoring the situation and officials were still investigating how the virus had spread to a human.
- The case has also been reported to the World Health Organization.
- A virus known primarily for infecting livestock has crossed an important scientific threshold: it has now been detected in a human for the first time.
- The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) says it has also been detected in other animals, including horses, sheep, goats and alpacas. 16 Oct 2026 - Vol 05 | Issue 42 The making of a medical and social emergency The virus is primarily transmitted by biting midges of the Culicoides genus.
What's still developing
- Beyond health concerns, the virus has notable agricultural impacts.
- However, officials have not established that the virus was the sole cause of death, given the patient’s serious underlying medical condition.
- ‘Stupid’: Macron slams Trump, others over France unrest remarks Trump behind bars?
- "This confirms the virus is present in the British Isles and in close proximity to Great Britain, highlighting the potential for further spread across north-west Europe", said the UK government. (c) Sky News 2026: France reports first Shamonda virus case in human who later died Click here to set This is the Coast as a preferred source on Google search.
- French authorities disclosed the case on October 22, 2026, after running clinical, laboratory, and epidemiological checks to confirm the finding and rule out contamination or misidentification.
- Although infections have also been reported in sheep, goats, alpacas and horses, human cases had not previously been documented.