- France has confirmed the first known human case of the Shamonda virus after an infected patient died in early October
- The virus mainly affects livestock, causing symptoms such as fever, diarrhoea, lethargy and reduced milk production in cattle
- Investigators suspect the patient contracted the virus through a midge bite in eastern France, while health officials continue assessing the implications of the case
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Harry Ivan Mboto is a Current Affairs and Politics Editor at TUKO.co.ke, covering political and world news. Mboto has five years of journalism experience and joined TUKO.co.ke in 2024
The Shamonda virus has drawn international attention after French authorities confirmed the first known human infection, raising questions about its origins, symptoms and potential risks to people.
Source: Getty Images
The insect-borne virus primarily affects livestock, particularly cattle, and is transmitted through bites from infected midges. Although it has circulated among animals for decades, human infections had not previously been documented.
The first known human case was identified in a patient who died in early October after receiving treatment for a serious underlying illness in Lyon, France.
French authorities suspect the patient contracted the virus through a midge bite in eastern France, where infections had been identified in animals earlier in the year.
Despite the fatal outcome, officials have stressed that the case is exceptional and that there is currently no identified risk to the wider public.
What is the Shamonda virus?
Shamonda virus is an insect-borne virus belonging to the Orthobunyavirus group. It is closely related to the Schmallenberg virus, another pathogen that affects livestock.
The virus is primarily transmitted by biting midges, which can spread the infection between animals. It was first identified in Nigeria in the mid-1960s and has since been detected in animals in Africa and Asia.
Its detection in Europe this year marked a new development in its geographical spread. Before the French case, there had been no documented human infections, despite decades of circulation among animals.
History of Shamonda virus
The virus was first identified in Nigeria in the 1960s and has since been detected sporadically in animals across parts of Africa and Asia, including Japan. Its appearance in Europe this year has prompted increased attention from veterinary and public health authorities.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is working with French and other European partners to investigate the infection and assess its potential public health implications.
Shamonda virus has been detected in several livestock species, including cattle, sheep, goats, alpacas and horses. Cases have also been reported in multiple European countries, with UK authorities confirming its detection in cattle in Jersey during the summer.
What are the symptoms of the Shamonda virus?
In cattle, Shamonda virus infection can cause fever, diarrhoea, lethargy and reduced milk production, according to the UK's Animal and Plant Health Agency.
Abortions have also been reported in infected cattle. There are concerns that infection during pregnancy could cause congenital abnormalities, similar to those associated with Schmallenberg virus and related infections.
The virus has not generally been considered fatal in cattle, according to the British Agriculture Bureau.
French authorities said the patient was already immunocompromised and receiving treatment for a serious illness when they developed neurological complications. Initial findings suggested the complications were “very likely linked” to the Shamonda virus infection.
It remains unclear whether the virus can cause similar complications in other people.
Source: TUKO.co.ke