OMM Newsroom
French authorities reported on October 22 the first known human infection with Shamonda virus, AnewZ reported. The infected patient has died. The virus, which usually circulates among animals, is believed to have been transmitted to the person through the bite of an infected biting midge.
The infection is thought to have occurred in eastern France, where the virus circulated among cattle in spring and summer. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the patient was being treated for a serious underlying condition that made the person more susceptible to infection. The newspaper “Le Progrès” reported that the man was in his 60s and lived near Lyon.
The World Health Organization (WHO) said it was in contact with French authorities but assessed the risk of wider transmission as low.
“Based on the current information and knowledge about the transmission of related viruses, this is an isolated human infection and is not currently expected to lead to wider spread,” the WHO said.
French authorities said they had identified no risk to public health.
Virus has spread among cattle in Europe
Shamonda virus is transmitted by biting midges of the genus Culicoides and is found mainly in cattle. Infections have also been recorded in horses, alpacas, sheep and goats.
The virus was first isolated from cattle in Nigeria in 1965. In Europe, it was first detected in late July 2026 during genomic analysis of samples taken from sick cattle in southern Germany, Switzerland and eastern France.
According to a bulletin on animal health monitoring in France, subsequent surveillance also detected the virus in Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and Jersey.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) said two variants of Shamonda virus, named Europe 1 and Europe 2, were involved in outbreaks in Europe in 2026.
The scale of the virus’s spread and its long-term impact remain unknown. WOAH said it is difficult to determine the full extent of outbreaks because surveillance and laboratory evidence vary between countries.
Impact of virus on livestock under study
In cattle, the virus may cause fever, diarrhea, weakness, loss of appetite and reduced milk production. Outbreaks recorded in Europe in 2026 have also been linked to reproductive complications, including abortions and fetal developmental defects.
According to French animal health authorities, an investigation at nine dairy farms found that milk production had fallen by as much as 75%.
The overall impact of the virus variants in Europe remains unclear. Laboratory testing is required to confirm infection, as the virus’s symptoms can resemble those of other diseases.
Shamonda virus belongs to the genus Orthobunyavirus and the Simbu serogroup, which also includes Schmallenberg virus. It has not historically been known to cause human disease, and scientists still know little about its ability to infect people.
WOAH is working with the WHO and scientific networks to better understand the virus and assess potential risks to human and animal health. No commercially available vaccine against Shamonda virus is currently available.
