France reports first known human Shamonda virus infection
The seriously ill patient died in early October. Investigators are examining how the infection was acquired and whether the virus caused or contributed to the death.
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The seriously ill patient died in early October. Investigators are examining how the infection was acquired and whether the virus caused or contributed to the death.
French authorities have reported the first known human infection with Shamonda virus, previously detected only in animals, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said on 22 October. France’s health and agriculture ministries said preliminary findings indicated that the patient’s neurological complications—problems affecting the nervous system—were “very likely linked” to the virus.
Only one human infection has been reported so far. The patient died in early October, and ECDC said investigators were still examining whether the virus caused or contributed to the death.
The ministries said on 22 October that the patient was thought to have acquired the infection through a midge bite in eastern France. This remains a preliminary assessment of how the infection occurred.
The patient was being treated for a serious illness in a Lyon hospital. French health officials described an “exceptional case in a severely immunocompromised patient”, meaning the patient’s immune system was greatly weakened. ECDC said the illness made the patient more susceptible to infection and complications than the general population. French officials said there was currently no risk to the public.
The human infection follows the virus’s first detection in European farm animals in summer 2026. Signs of illness in animals were reported from June, and the virus was identified in late July. It has since been detected in farm animals across several European countries. Before this summer, it had been detected in animals outside Europe.
Shamonda virus usually spreads between animals through bites from infected midges, small biting flies. Biting midges are generally most active in Europe from spring to autumn, and cooling temperatures are reducing the activity of most species, ECDC said.
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The case has been reported to the World Health Organization. ECDC is working with French authorities and European partners to investigate the possible public-health implications.
ECDC is also working with the relevant European Union reference laboratory to strengthen testing capacity and offer member states additional support to identify other possible cases.
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