France has reported the first human case of Shamonda virus in a patient who was reported to be with severely compromised immunity levels. The patient has died earlier this month.
On Thursday, the health authorities in France shared that the Shamonda virus has been detected in a human for the first time. The rare case has been detected in a patient with severely compromised immunity levels, who died earlier in October, reported AFP.
France detects first human case of Shamonda virus
The health and agriculture ministries assured that "no health risk to the general public" has been identified in a joint statement. It added that the human infection seems to be "an exceptional case involving a severely immunocompromised patient" who was hospitalised for a serious medical condition.
"Despite circulating in Africa and Asia for several decades, the Shamonda virus has never previously been detected in humans," the ministries said, quoting the agency.
What is Shamonda virus
Shamonda virus typically affects livestock, particularly cattle. It belongs to the Orthobunyavirus group, the same group of viruses as Schmallenberg virus (SBV).
While the disease has been reportedly observed mainly in cattle, it can also be found in sheep, goats, alpacas and horses across European countries.
How it Shamonda virus can be transmitted
Shamonda virus is typically transmitted to animals via small biting insects. It was first detected in Europe this summer, as per the authorities.
The patient reportedly contracted the virus through the bite of a midge in eastern France, where the virus was circulating in animals during the spring and summer, the ministries said.
"The neurological complications observed in the immunocompromised patient prior to his death are very likely linked to infection with the Shamonda virus," as per the authorities, based on preliminary findings.
But "clinical, biological and epidemiological investigations are still ongoing", they added.
Symptoms of Shamonda virus
Shamonda virus symptoms can be fever, diarrhea, fatigue and a reduction in milk production, as per UK’s Animal and Plant Health Agency.
However, the virus is said to be not fatal for cattle, reported Independent citing the British Agriculture Bureau.
History of the livestock virus in Europe
The Shamonda virus was first identified in Nigeria in the mid-1960s. Since then the virus has been detected in animals of Africa and Japan. However, it is now spreading among several European countries this year.
Despite its previous circulation in Africa and Asia, the virus has now only seen in Europe over the summer. For the unversed, no human cases of the Shamonda virus had been ever documented across the world until now in France.
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Sneha Biswas specialises in covering entertainment and pop culture, with a specialisation on Bollywood, Hollywood, OTT platforms, K-pop, K-dramas, and major developments in the US entertainment industry. She believes in telling stories that balance speed with substance, and in making entertainment journalism contextual, culturally aware, and reader-first rather than purely reactive.<br><br> With over six years of experience in digital media, Sneha currently serves as a Deputy Chief Content Producer at Live Mint. She has spent more than three and a half years with the HT Group and returned to the organisation in February 2025, joining Live Mint to uplift the entertainment section. Over the past year, she has been closely involved in entertainment coverage including breaking news, explainers, trend reporting, box office reports and analysis for the audience.<br><br> Sneha is Google News certified, having completed training focused on newsroom best practices, digital reporting, and SEO-driven content strategies. Her work reflects a strong understanding of audience behaviour, search trends, and the evolving consumption patterns of entertainment news across formats.<br><br> Prior to her current role, Sneha has worked across multiple content and editorial functions within digital newsrooms, building expertise in content planning, editing, and real-time coverage. Her professional interests lie at the intersection of entertainment, internet culture, and global pop trends.<br><br> Working for the National city team, Biswas closely follows global entertainment movements while maintaining a strong pulse on what is happening in India.