Shamonda Virus Detected in Human for First Time in France
A man in France has become the first known human to contract Shamonda virus, a type of bunyavirus typically spread by infected midges. The virus, which primarily affects livestock, can cause fever, diarrhea, and poor milk production in animals.
According to French health officials, the man, who died in early October, was severely immunocompromised, making him an exceptional case. The World Health Organization (WHO) and European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) are monitoring the situation, with French authorities investigating how the virus spread to a human.
Shamonda virus has been detected in farm animals in several European countries, including Ireland, Germany, Italy, and Spain, as well as in Jersey. The ECDC is working with French and European partners to investigate the potential public health implications of the infection.
The WHO and ECDC have stated that the case is isolated and unlikely to lead to wider spread at this time, citing the decline in transmissibility of midge-borne viruses during the cooler months of the year.
