France reports first human case of Shamonda virus after patient dies

France has reported the first documented human infection with the Shamonda virus, a pathogen previously known to affect animals, after a patient died in early October, Reuters reported.

French authorities said on Thursday that no risk to the general population had been identified so far. The patient had been receiving treatment for a serious underlying illness that made him more vulnerable to infections and complications.

The man, who was in his 60s and lived in the Lyon area, is suspected to have contracted the virus through the bite of an infected midge in eastern France, where the pathogen had circulated among animals during spring and summer.

However, investigations are continuing to establish how the infection occurred and whether the virus caused or contributed to the patient's death.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said it was monitoring the case and working with French authorities and European partners to assess its potential public health implications.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is also in contact with French officials to determine the source of the infection, possible transmission routes and any potential risks to public health.

Shamonda virus belongs to the orthobunyavirus group and is primarily transmitted among animals through the bites of infected *Culicoides* midges, small biting insects. It mainly affects cattle but has also been detected in sheep, goats, horses and alpacas.

First identified in Nigeria in the 1960s, the virus has previously been reported in parts of Africa and Asia. Its detection in a human marks a significant development, as no human infections had been documented before this case.

The virus was first detected in European livestock in July 2026 following genomic testing of sick cattle in Germany, Switzerland and eastern France. It has since been identified in farm animals in several other European countries.

In animals, the infection can cause diarrhoea, weakness, loss of appetite and, less frequently, fever. French animal health authorities have also reported substantial declines in milk production on affected dairy farms.

Authorities have stressed that the human case appears exceptional and that no broader public health threat has been identified to date. Further investigations are underway to determine the circumstances of the infection and improve understanding of the virus's potential to infect humans.