French authorities have announced the first known human case of the Shamonda virus (Shav), found in a patient who died in early October. As reported by BBC News, the virus had until now been considered non-transmissible to humans, even though it has circulated in Africa and Asia for decades.
Health officials described it as an “exceptional case” involving a severely immunocompromised patient. They said they do not see any immediate risk to the public at this stage.
The patient was being treated for a serious illness in a Lyon hospital and experienced neurological complications that initial findings suggest were “very likely linked” to the virus. Their weakened immune system made them more vulnerable to getting sick.
This was a virus normally seen in cattle
The Shamonda virus mostly affects cattle, where it can cause fever, diarrhea, and poor milk production. Cases have also been recorded in sheep, goats, alpacas, and horses.
The virus typically spreads through infected midges, which are tiny biting insects. Officials believe the patient contracted Shav through a midge bite in eastern France, a region where the virus had been circulating among animals since the spring.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is monitoring the situation alongside French and other European partners. The agency is investigating how the virus spread to a human and what the potential public health implications might be.
The first animal cases of the Shamonda virus in Europe were identified in late July. Since then, it has been detected in farm animals in several other countries, including Ireland, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Jersey.
The World Health Organization, which declared a global health emergency in May over a rare Ebola strain outbreak in Congo and Uganda, has also been notified of the human case. Reporting it is standard procedure for new or unusual viral detections.
Published: Oct 22, 2026 08:45 am