France has confirmed the death of the first person known to have been infected with the Shamonda virus, a pathogen that affects cattle, sheep and goats and was previously thought unable to spread to humans. The French government says that, based on what is currently understood about the virus, the general public faces no risk, while stressing that health authorities are still investigating.
The case was recorded in Lyon. The patient died earlier this month and had been severely immunosuppressed, which officials say makes the case likely to be an exceptional one. "The neurological complications observed in the immunocompromised patient prior to his death were most likely related to infection with the Shamonda virus," the official statement reads.
Preliminary evidence suggests the patient was infected through an insect bite. Biting midges, tiny gnats, are the main way the virus passes between animals. Since it was first identified in Nigeria in the mid-1960s, sporadic infections have been reported in livestock across Africa and in Japan. Cattle are regarded as the main host because they show visible symptoms, whereas sheep and goats can be infected without any obvious clinical signs being documented.
In animals, the incubation period after a bite from an infected midge is two to three days. Symptoms include fever, diarrhea and reduced milk production. In pregnant cows, the infection can cause miscarriages or severe deformities in the calf. No vaccine exists, so prevention and control depend on insecticides and repellents.
Several European countries are on alert because the region was considered free of the virus until a few months ago. This summer, a new variant called Shamonda-Europe was detected in livestock in Switzerland. Cases were later identified in Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Liechtenstein, Italy and Spain.
Spain's Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food says two genetically distinct forms, Shamonda Type 1 and Shamonda Type 2, have been found circulating in Europe. In early September, infections of both types were confirmed on livestock farms in 37 provinces across France.
Scientists urged caution in interpreting the case. Ben Brennan, professor of virology at the University of Glasgow, called it "an important scientific finding" but said it should be kept in perspective. The patient had a serious underlying illness that left them especially vulnerable to infection, he said, and "we do not yet know whether Shamonda virus contributed to their death."
David Roiz, a scientist at the Institute for Game and Wildlife Research in Spain, agreed it is premature to draw conclusions about the virus's potential to infect people. Many viruses, he noted, "circulate naturally amongst mammals in tropical regions and cause sporadic cases in humans." In a globalized world with animals and goods on the move and a changing climate, he said, such cases are not unusual. "We should not be concerned; we simply need to monitor the situation, remain vigilant, and be proactive in addressing potential health risks."
