France reports first human case of Shamonda virus

FRANCE – France has reported the first documented human case of Shamonda virus, following the death of a seriously ill patient suspected to have contracted the livestock virus through a midge bite, although the World Health Organization (WHO) considers the case isolated with no current evidence of a broader public health risk.

French health and agriculture authorities reported the case on October 22, 2026. 

The patient had been receiving treatment for a serious underlying illness in a hospital in Lyon and developed neurological complications considered likely to be linked to the virus. 

The patient’s weakened immune system may have increased their susceptibility to infection.

WHO said it was in contact with French authorities and was monitoring the situation. 

The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is also working with French and European partners to assess the potential public health implications.

Livestock remain the primary concern

Scientists first isolated the Shamonda virus from cattle in Nigeria in 1965. It belongs to the Orthobunyavirus genus within the Simbu serogroup and is closely related to Schmallenberg virus, another midge-borne pathogen affecting livestock.

The virus primarily affects cattle but has also been detected in sheep, goats, horses and alpacas. 

Infected cattle can develop fever, diarrhoea, and reduced milk production, which can affect dairy herd productivity. Infection during pregnancy may also result in congenital abnormalities in newborn calves.

The virus is thought to spread between animals through bites from Culicoides midges, small fly-like insects.

Direct animal-to-animal transmission is not known, except when an infected pregnant animal transmits the virus to its fetus.

European spread raises surveillance concerns

Shamonda virus has historically been reported in Africa and Japan. Researchers first detected it in cattle in southern Germany and Switzerland in 2026, before identifying it in animals in other parts of Western Europe.

Surveillance remains important because clinical signs can resemble other livestock diseases, and laboratory testing is required to confirm infection. 

Reporting to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) is voluntary, which may limit understanding of the virus’s distribution.

No vaccines or specific treatments currently exist for Shamonda virus. Further research is also needed to identify which midge species transmit it and to better understand its epidemiology.

Although the French case marks a significant development in understanding the virus, health authorities have emphasised that evidence remains limited.

WHO has indicated that the available information suggests the case is unlikely to spread more widely at this time.

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