First Human Case of Shamonda Virus Identified in France

French health and agriculture ministries announced that the first confirmed human infection with Shamonda virus (Shav) was detected in a patient who died in early October.

Officials described the case as “exceptional” because the patient was severely immunocompromised, which made them more vulnerable to illness. The individual was being treated for a serious condition at a Lyon hospital when neurological complications arose, which initial findings linked “very likely” to the virus.

Shav is a disease that primarily affects cattle and is transmitted by infected midges. In livestock, it can cause fever, diarrhoea and reduced milk production. The virus has also been reported in sheep, goats, alpacas and horses, but before this incident it had never been identified in humans despite decades of circulation in Africa and Asia.

French authorities believe the patient contracted the virus through a midge bite in eastern France, where animal cases were first identified in the spring. The ministries emphasized that there is currently no risk to the public.

The World Health Organization confirmed this as the first documented human case and said it had not yet completed a formal risk assessment. However, the WHO noted that information on similar diseases suggests the case is isolated and “unlikely to lead to wider spread at this time.” It added that transmissibility of midge‑borne viruses generally declines during cooler months.

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said it is working with French and other European partners to investigate the “potential public health implications” of the infection.

Since the virus was first detected in Europe in late July, it has been found in farm animals across several countries, including Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain and the island of Jersey.

While the patient’s death underscores the seriousness of the infection for vulnerable individuals, health officials stress that the virus remains non‑transmissible to humans under normal conditions and that ongoing monitoring will continue.