The World Health Organization (WHO) has confirmed the first recorded human infection with Shamonda virus in France. The patient, who had a severely weakened immune system, died following the infection, according to the WHO.
Shamonda virus has previously been identified primarily in animals, including cattle, sheep, goats and horses. The WHO said the French case is currently considered isolated, with no evidence so far of a wider risk to the general population.
WHO Monitoring Situation in France
The WHO said it is working with French health authorities and monitoring the situation closely. The organisation said further information would be provided as more evidence becomes available.
Shamonda virus is primarily associated with livestock. According to the WHO, it was first identified in cattle in Nigeria in 1965. Most reported infections have involved cattle, although sheep, goats, horses and alpacas can also be affected.
The World Organisation for Animal Health says infected animals may develop symptoms including fever, diarrhoea and reduced milk production. In some cases, the virus can affect the foetus of an infected pregnant animal, potentially resulting in congenital abnormalities.
The virus is generally transmitted among animals through bites from tiny insects known as Culicoides midges.
Available evidence indicates that direct transmission from one animal to another is not considered the usual route of infection. However, an infected pregnant animal can transmit the virus to its foetus.
What Is the Risk to Humans?
According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, the patient in France was already receiving treatment for a serious illness and may therefore have been more vulnerable to infection than the general population.
Authorities are also investigating whether Shamonda virus caused or contributed to the patient’s death.
There is currently no specific treatment or vaccine for Shamonda virus. Experts are continuing to investigate the human case while monitoring the virus among animal populations in Europe.