France has reported the first known human case of the Shamonda virus (SHAV), following the death of a severely immunocompromised patient in early October, raising questions about the infection’s origins, symptoms and potential threat to public health.
The French health authorities announced the development on Thursday amid continuing concerns about viral outbreaks and the need to understand emerging infectious diseases.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), Shamonda virus is a vector-borne pathogen belonging to the Orthobunyavirus group, which also includes Schmallenberg and Akabane viruses associated with animal infections.
Researchers first isolated the virus from cattle in Nigeria in 1965, then detected it in other parts of Africa and Asia in the early 2000s.
France’s ministry of agriculture reported that the virus was first identified in Europe in the summer of 2026, with cases detected in France, Germany and Switzerland.
WOAH has identified two variants, Shamonda virus Europe 1 (SHAV-EU1) and Shamonda virus Europe 2 (SHAV-EU2), which are distributed mainly across Central and Northern Europe, respectively.
Although the variants are expected to produce similar symptoms, their potential differences in the animal species they infect have yet to be fully established.
Transmission and symptoms
Shamonda virus is primarily transmitted through bites from infected Culicoides midges, small, blood-sucking insects, and it mainly affects animals, particularly cattle.
While direct transmission between animals has not been established, infections passing from a mother animal to its offspring during pregnancy have been reported.
French authorities said the leading hypothesis was that the deceased patient contracted the infection through a midge bite in eastern France, although investigations into the circumstances surrounding the infection are continuing.
In animals, reported symptoms include fever, diarrhoea, reduced activity, decreased milk production in cattle and reproductive complications such as abortions and foetal malformations.
Some infected horses have also experienced neurological disorders, while the full range of symptoms associated with infection in humans remains unclear.
In the French case, the patient developed neurological complications before dying in early October, with authorities indicating that the complications were very likely linked to the virus.
Should the public be concerned?
French health authorities said current scientific knowledge had not identified a health risk to the general population, describing the documented human infection as an exceptional case.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said investigations were ongoing to establish how the patient became infected and determine any implications for public health.
So far, no evidence has been established of transmission from one person to another, and health authorities have not recommended specific precautions against Shamonda virus for the general public.
However, using insect repellents and adopting measures to prevent insect bites remain useful ways to reduce exposure to insect-borne infections.
Treatment and prevention
No established treatment exists for Shamonda virus infections in humans or animals, and no commercially available vaccine has been developed against the virus.
Given that the infection primarily affects animals and spreads through infected midges, reducing their exposure to the insects is an important preventive measure.
WOAH recommends measures such as installing insect-proof screens in animal housing, using approved insecticides where appropriate, and controlling areas where midges breed.
During road transportation, protect animals with approved repellents, transport them when insect activity is low, and keep them away from unprotected stops around dawn, dusk, or overnight.
For air transportation, treat animal crates and cargo areas with approved insecticides in accordance with relevant safety procedures.
For humans, using repellents and other protective measures can help reduce exposure.
Although the first documented human case has prompted further investigation, available evidence does not currently indicate a general public health threat, and authorities have advised against unnecessary alarm while investigations continue.
