First Human Death Linked to Shamonda Virus in France

• •First human infection of Shamonda virus reported in France, resulting in death.
• •The patient was severely immunocompromised, making this case exceptional.
• •Risk to the general public is currently assessed as low by health officials.

France has reported the first human case of the Shamonda virus, leading to the death of a man in his 60s who was severely immunocompromised. The virus, primarily affecting livestock, is transmitted through bites from Culicoides midges. Health officials assert that the risk to the general public remains low. The case occurred in Lyon, with the patient likely contracting the virus from midges in the region. The virus was first identified in Nigeria in the 1960s and has recently been detected in livestock across several European countries. Although this is the first known human infection, officials emphasize that it is an exceptional case due to the patient's underlying health issues. The World Health Organization has noted that the long-term impact of the virus in Europe is still uncertain. Currently, there is no vaccine available for the Shamonda virus.