France reports first human Shamonda virus case, says no health risk

Paris: French health authorities said Thursday that the Shamonda virus, which usually affects livestock, had been detected in a human for the first time, in a severely immunocompromised patient who died earlier this month.

There was “no health risk to the general public identified at this time”, the health and agriculture ministries said in a joint statement.

It added that the human infection appeared to be “an exceptional case involving a severely immunocompromised patient” hospitalised for a serious medical condition.

“Despite circulating in Africa and Asia for several decades, the Shamonda virus has never previously been detected in humans,” the ministries said.

The virus, which belongs to the Orthobunyavirus group and is typically transmitted to animals by small biting insects, was first detected in Europe this summer, they said.

At this stage in the investigation, the patient was believed to have contracted the virus through the bite of a midge in eastern France, where the virus was circulating in animals during the spring and summer, the ministries said.

“The neurological complications observed in the immunocompromised patient prior to his death are very likely linked to infection with the Shamonda virus,” they added, citing preliminary findings.

But “clinical, biological and epidemiological investigations are still ongoing”, they said.

Shamonda virus: What we know

What is it? A virus belonging to the Orthobunyavirus group that mainly affects cattle. First detected in Nigeria in the mid-1960s, it has since been reported in Africa and Japan.

How does it spread? Usually through small biting insects called midges. French authorities believe the human case followed a midge bite in eastern France.

What happened in France? Authorities reported the first known human infection in a severely immunocompromised patient, who died earlier this month while hospitalised for a serious medical condition.

Did the virus cause the death? Preliminary findings suggest the patient’s neurological complications were very likely linked to the infection. Investigations are continuing.

Is the public at risk? French authorities say no health risk to the general public has been identified at this time, describing the infection as an exceptional case.

How widespread is it? First detected in Europe in late July, the virus has now been identified in 14 western European countries.

What happens to infected cattle? Symptoms include acute diarrhoea, fever, lethargy and reduced milk production.

In 14 European countries

The virus was first detected in Nigeria in the mid-1960s and has since been reported in cattle in several parts of Africa and in Japan.

The virus was detected in Europe for the first time at the end of July, including on cattle farms in France.

It has now been detected in 14 western European countries, according to an epidemiological bulletin from France’s national research institute monitoring animal health.

Cattle are considered its main animal hosts, although sporadic infections in smaller livestock and horses have also been identified in France this summer.

In cattle, the main symptoms are acute diarrhoea, fever, lethargy and a drop in milk production.

An investigation is ongoing, and both the World Health Organization and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control have been notified.