France: First case of Shamond virus in a human. The patient died

French authorities said that the infection could have occurred after being bitten by a midge carrying the virus. The pathogen circulated among animals in the eastern part of the country in spring and summer.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said the deceased patient was being treated for a serious illness that made him more susceptible to infections.

An investigation is ongoing to determine whether Shamonda virus was the direct cause of or contributed to the death, as well as how the infection was acquired.

Stockholm's ECDC said it was in contact with French authorities and European partners to assess possible public health consequences.

The French government noted that, according to the current state of knowledge, no health risk has been identified for the entire population.

The virus occurs primarily in animals

Shamonda virus is transmitted by biting midges. It is most often detected in cattle, but it has also been found in horses, alpacas, sheep and goats - according to data from the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH).

The pathogen was first identified in Nigeria in the mid-1960s. In Europe, its presence was confirmed at the end of July, after genomic tests of diseased cattle in southern Germany, Switzerland and eastern France.

According to the French animal health surveillance bulletin, the virus has also been detected in Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and the British island of Jersey.

Shamonda virus is not currently classified as a disease covered by EU animal health law. Therefore, it is not subject to mandatory, official supervision or control activities.

French veterinary services reported that in a study conducted on nine dairy farms, milk production in affected cattle decreased by up to 75%. In animals, among others, diarrhea, weakness, loss of appetite, and less often, fever.