France Reports First Human Case of Shamonda Virus After Patient’s Death

France has reported its first human case of the Shamonda virus, a disease usually found in livestock, after a patient died in early October. The French government said the man, who lived in the Lyon area in eastern France, may have been bitten by an infected midge. Authorities have stated that no risk to the general population has been identified so far.

The patient, who was in his 60s, had been receiving treatment for a serious illness that made him more vulnerable to infections. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is working with French authorities and European partners to investigate the case. Officials are still determining whether the virus caused or contributed to the man’s death and how he contracted the infection.

The Shamonda virus is primarily found in cattle and can also affect horses, alpacas, sheep and goats. Transmitted by biting midges, the virus was first identified in Nigeria in the 1960s and was recently detected in several European countries. Infected cattle may experience diarrhoea, weakness, loss of appetite and reduced milk production. French authorities continue to monitor the situation, although the virus is not currently subject to official surveillance or control measures under EU animal health law.

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