{
  "id": 16081443,
  "title": "France reports first human case of livestock virus Shamonda after patient dies",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/france-reports-first-human-case-of-livestock-virus-shamonda-after",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-22T17:52:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National UAE",
    "slug": "the-national-uae",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/news/europe/2026/10/22/france-reports-first-human-case-of-livestock-virus-shamonda-after-patient-dies/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "France has confirmed its first human case of the Shamonda virus, typically found in livestock, leading to the death of a hospitalized patient in his sixties. The infection, suspected to have been contracted through a midge bite in eastern France, does not pose a risk to the general public, according to health officials. The victim, who was in hospital for a separate serious condition, has been identified as having a weakened immune system, which likely contributed to his severe outcome. The WHO, based in Geneva, stated that the isolated case is unlikely to spread further. Shamonda, transmitted by biting midges, is most commonly found in cattle but can also infect horses, alpaca, sheep, and goats. There is no evidence of transmission from cattle to humans or between humans. The virus was first identified in Europe in 2023 after tests on sick cattle in southern Germany, Switzerland, and eastern France, and has since been detected in multiple European countries. While it causes symptoms like diarrhea, weakness, and loss of appetite in animals, its effects on humans are less clear. The virus is not classified as a disease under EU animal health law and is not subject to official surveillance or control measures.",
  "summary": "France reported the first human case of the Shamonda virus usually found in livestock on Thursday in a hospital patient who died, though authorities said there was no risk to the general population. It is suspected that the victim was bitten by a midge carrying the virus in eastern France where it had circulated among animals this spring and summer, the government said in a statement. The man has…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "BBC Science",
        "title": "First human case of Shamonda virus detected in France, officials say",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/first-human-case-of-shamonda-virus-detected-in-france-officials-say",
        "published": "2026-10-22T11:04:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "DW News",
        "title": "France confirms first Shamonda virus infection in a human death of 'severely immunocompromised' individual",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/22/france-confirms-first-shamonda-virus-infection-in-a-human-death-of",
        "published": "2026-10-22T12:46:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}