First known human case of Shamonda virus confirmed in France
Authorities said this is “an exceptional case” and that there is “no health risk for the general population.”
France has identified its first case of the Shamonda virus, a disease previously confined to animals, in a severely immunocompromised patient who passed away in early October. The patient, receiving treatment for a serious illness, was particularly susceptible to infection and complications. Brain complications preceding the patient's death "are most likely linked to the Shamonda virus infection," according to France's agriculture, food, and health authorities.
The authorities emphasized this as an "exceptional case in a highly immunocompromised patient" and stressed that there is "no health risk for the general population." Health experts have raised concerns about zoonotic spillover, the transmission of diseases from animals to humans, potentially leading to the next pandemic. Over 60% of emerging infectious disease threats are zoonotic, including Covid-19 and Ebola.
As diseases evolve and jump from wild animals to pets to humans, their potential for causing pandemics increases. Scientists are closely monitoring the bird flu, a similar threat. The Shamonda virus, transmitted between animals via bites from infected midges, was first detected in European farm animals this year, previously confined to African countries.
Symptoms in cattle include fever, diarrhea, lethargy, reduced milk production, and mild respiratory signs. The virus has been found in cattle, horses, sheep, goats, and an alpaca in several European countries, including France. The exact cause of the patient's death and the mode of infection acquisition remain unclear. French authorities believe the patient may have contracted the virus through a midge bite while in eastern France, an area where animal infections have been circulating since the spring.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is closely monitoring the situation and in contact with French authorities and European partners to investigate the potential public health implications of this first human infection.
Written by urgent.news from Politico EU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
