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France reports first human Shamonda virus case; the patient has died
The midge-borne virus, normally found in livestock, had never before been detected in a person. Health authorities say the public is not at risk.
Key points
- French health authorities detected the Shamonda virus in a human for the first time.
- The patient, who had a severely weakened immune system, was infected in early October and later died.
- Authorities see no risk to the general population at this stage.
French health authorities said on Thursday that they had found the Shamonda virus in a human for the first time, in a patient who later died.
The virus mainly circulates among animals, especially livestock, and is spread by biting midges, tiny flying insects. Until now it had not been identified in people and had been thought unable to pass to humans.
The patient, who had a severely weakened immune system, was infected in early October, according to the details released. Officials have not given the person’s identity or where in France the infection happened.
The authorities said they saw “no risk to the general population” at this stage. No other human cases have been reported, and investigations into how the patient was infected are continuing.
Scientists will now want to establish whether the infection was a one-off, made possible by the patient’s weakened immunity, or a sign that the virus can cross into humans more widely. That question will shape whether health agencies change their surveillance of farm workers and others exposed to midges.