First human case of Shamonda virus detected in France

Summarised from 4 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 22 Oct, 12:16 · Archive

French authorities have confirmed the first human case of Shamonda virus in a person who died in October.

French health authorities have announced the first confirmed human case of Shamonda virus, detected in a patient who died in early October. The patient was severely immunocompromised and was being treated for a serious illness at the Hospices Civils de Lyon.

Shamonda virus is an insect-borne Orthobunyavirus primarily affecting livestock, particularly cattle, and is transmitted by biting midges. It was previously thought to be non-transmissible to humans, despite decades of circulation in Africa and Asia. Cases have also been observed in sheep, goats, alpacas and horses in several European countries.

French authorities said the patient is believed to have been infected through a midge bite in eastern France, where the virus had been circulating among animals during spring and summer 2026. Clinical, biological and epidemiological investigations found that cerebral complications seen in the patient before death were 'very likely' linked to the Shamonda infection.

The BBC reports that the first cases of the virus in Europe were identified in late July. The UK Animal and Plant Health Agency last month observed the virus had been detected in cattle in Jersey.

French health authorities stressed that this was an 'exceptional case occurring in a severely immunocompromised patient' and said there was no health risk to the general population at this stage. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control said it was monitoring the situation and working with French and European partners to investigate the potential public health implications of the infection.

How it is being reported

• First human case of Shamonda virus detected in France, officials sayThe disease, which usually affects cattle, has been identified in a patient who died in early October.BBC World · 22 Oct, 12:04
• What is Shamonda virus? Symptoms and origin after first human case confirmed in FranceThe virus only appeared in Europe for the first time this summer, including on cattle farmsIndependent World · 22 Oct, 11:17
• Shamonda virus detected in human for first time ever as patient in France diesThe insect-borne Shamonda virus has been identified in a human patient for the first time, French health authorities have saidThe Mirror · 22 Oct, 10:32
• Deadly Shamonda virus detected in human for first time in FranceThe virus had until now been considered non-transmissible to humans, the French government saidIndependent World · 22 Oct, 09:41
• France reports first Shamonda virus case in human who later diedThe first human case of the Shamonda virus has been detected in France in a person who later died, according to authorities.Sky News · 22 Oct, 09:38

In this story: France · Hospices Civils de Lyon · Nigeria · Africa · Asia · Japan · Jersey · European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control

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