Can the Shamonda Virus, Detected in a Human in France, Reach the Americas?

Last August, France reported the first documented case of a human infection with the Shamonda virus (SHAV). Prior to this, scientific understanding indicated that the virus primarily affected animals like cattle, sheep, goats, and horses, transmitted through bites from small insects in the Culicoides genus. The patient who contracted the virus died in early October, though the exact transmission method and whether it caused death remain unclear. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) is closely monitoring the situation.

The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) shared insights from Jairo Mendez Rico, the regional advisor on viral diseases. So far, only one human case of SHAV has been reported, with no evidence of circulation in the Americas. The patient had a serious illness and compromised immune system, making him particularly vulnerable. The clinical spectrum of SHAV in humans is unknown, and extrapolating this single case to the general population is not possible.

While the virus has not yet reached the Americas, experts emphasize the importance of maintaining surveillance under a One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and ecosystem health. The presence of Culicoides biting midges, which transmit the virus, in the Americas does not automatically mean the virus can be transmitted there.

Further studies are needed to determine which arthropod species can transmit the virus. The region has experience in entomological surveillance, strengthened by prior responses to other arboviruses like Oropouche. Maintaining surveillance is crucial due to the lack of information about SHAV's clinical spectrum and the potential for a possible introduction in the Americas.