{
  "id": 16084148,
  "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-16084148",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-22T17:52:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "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 the first human case of the Shamonda virus, typically found in livestock, with the affected patient succumbing to the illness, according to a government statement. The victim, in his 60s and residing in the Lyon area, had been admitted to hospital in Lyon with an unrelated serious condition. Authorities emphasized that there is no risk to the general population, as the virus does not transmit from humans or between humans, and no evidence of cattle-to-human transmission exists. The World Health Organisation (WHO) stated that it is unlikely the incident will lead to a wider spread, noting that it is an isolated human case. Shamonda is primarily transmitted by biting midges and is commonly found in cattle, though it has also affected horses, alpaca, sheep, and goats. The virus, which was first identified in Nigeria in the mid-1960s, was detected in Europe for the first time in southern Germany, Switzerland, and eastern France late last month. France's health directorate, led by Gregory Emery, explained that the patient's weakened immune system is the reason for the severity of the illness. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) highlighted that there are no surveillance or control measures in place for Shamonda under EU Animal Health Law.",
  "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."
}