French health authorities have confirmed the first known human death from the Shamonda virus, an insect-borne disease primarily affecting livestock. The patient, who was treated for the virus at Hospices Civils de Lyon, has died, marking the first documented human case of its kind.
The authorities said they saw no risk to the general population at this stage. The Shamonda virus is an Orthobunyavirus transmitted by biting midges, particularly affecting cattle.
Exceptional Case in Immunocompromised Patient
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, "This is therefore an exceptional case involving a severely immunocompromised patient." The leading hypothesis is that the patient may have been bitten by a Culicoides type midge in eastern France, where the virus had been circulating among animals during spring and summer 2026.
"Furthermore, according to investigations already carried out, the cerebral complications observed in the immunocompromised patient before his death were very likely linked to infection with the Shamonda virus," the authorities added.
Investigations and International Notification
Clinical, biological and epidemiological investigations are ongoing, involving expertise in human, animal and environmental health. The agency noted that despite decades of circulation of the Shamonda virus in Africa and Asia, no human cases had been documented until now.
French health authorities have notified international health bodies, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Virus Spread in Europe
First detected in Nigeria in the mid-1960s, the disease has since been reported sporadically in cattle across West, East and Southern Africa, as well as in Japan. This summer marked the first time it was detected in Europe, including on cattle farms in France.
In August, APHA said cattle in Jersey showed clinical signs consistent with those reported elsewhere in Europe, testing positive for the virus. The agency said: "This confirms the virus is present in the British Isles and in close proximity to Great Britain, highlighting the potential for further spread across north-west Europe." Cases were also reported in southern Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
Cattle are considered the primary host, although sporadic infections in small ruminants and equines were also reported in France during the same period. In infected adult cattle, the main symptoms are fever, loss of appetite, watery or loose diarrhea and abdominal discomfort. Infected dairy cows typically sharply drop their milk production.
