Voice of Urdu – International News in English & Urdu

First Human Shamonda Virus Case Reported in France — AI-generated representative image: A veterinarian inspects cattle on a farm in France, where the first human Shamonda virus case was reported.

Editorial Team

A livestock-borne orthobunyavirus previously thought harmless to people killed an immunocompromised patient in Lyon

The world's first documented human infection with the Shamonda virus has been reported in France, where a hospitalized patient later died, according to French health authorities. The insect-borne disease, which has circulated among livestock for decades, was previously believed to be incapable of infecting humans.

In a joint statement on Thursday, the French Health and Agriculture Ministries confirmed that the patient, who had a severely weakened immune system, died in early October after being hospitalized in Lyon.

The case marks a significant scientific development, as the pathogen was long considered non-transmissible to humans. It also raises questions about how closely animal health and human health are connected, particularly as the virus has recently spread among European cattle.

Despite the unprecedented nature of the infection, French authorities have emphasized that there is currently no indication of a wider threat to public health.

Confirmed Findings

The patient developed severe neurological complications that authorities believe were linked to the infection. However, investigators have not yet established conclusively whether the virus was responsible for the death.

Officials suspect the patient contracted the virus through the bite of an infected midge in eastern France, where the pathogen has recently been detected in cattle. The circumstances of the infection remain under investigation, and no other human infections have been identified.

Background on the Virus

The Shamonda virus belongs to the orthobunyavirus group and was first identified in Nigeria in the 1960s. It is transmitted by tiny biting insects known as Culicoides midges and has been detected in livestock across Africa and Asia.

The virus has recently emerged among European cattle, triggering concern among veterinary authorities. In France, infections have been reported across dozens of departments, with affected animals suffering fever, diarrhea, weakness, and falling milk production, according to French agricultural authorities.

Other viruses that have crossed from animals to humans include HIV, Ebola, and bird flu. The Covid-19 pandemic was caused by a virus widely believed to have originated in bats.

Official Statements and Assessment

"Until now, the Shamonda virus was considered non-transmissible to humans," the ministries said. They described the infection as the first confirmed detection of the pathogen in a person.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control has confirmed the unprecedented human case and is working with French authorities to assess its implications.

What Happens Next

Health officials are continuing epidemiological and laboratory investigations to determine how the patient became infected and whether other cases may have gone undetected. French authorities stressed that the patient was severely immunocompromised and reiterated that no wider public health threat has been identified at this stage.