Animal Disease: Shamonda Virus: "Only the Tip of the Iceberg" Found
The Shamonda virus, which is new here, has spread rapidly. Infected cattle usually show mild or no symptoms. Whether further damage follows will only be shown in the coming months.
The Shamonda virus, first detected in German cattle this summer, has now been found in almost all of Germany, with the exceptions of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and the city-states. According to Martin Beer, Vice President of the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), thousands of farms are affected, but most infected animals show mild or no symptoms, with some experiencing fever, reduced milk production, or diarrhea.
The virus, spread by tiny biting midges, has been linked to abortions in infected cattle, and its impact on pregnant animals will become clearer in coming months. The FLI is working on antibody tests to better track the virus's spread, and Beer sees no direct risk to humans or consumers, citing 60 years of evidence with no zoonotic potential.
Written by urgent.news from Handelsblatt's report — not a translation of it. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
