France has reported the first documented human infection with Shamonda virus, a virus previously detected only in animals, after a severely immunocompromised patient died in early October.

The patient was being treated for a serious illness at a hospital in Lyon. French authorities suspect the infection was acquired through the bite of an infected midge in eastern France, where the virus had circulated among animals during spring and summer 2026.

Investigations into how the patient contracted the virus and whether it caused or contributed to the death are continuing. Authorities have said that no public-health risk to the general population has been identified at this time. HEALTH · EXPLAINER What is Shamonda virus, and what are the risks? EXPLAINER What is Shamonda virus?

France has reported the first known human case in a patient who died. The livestock virus reached Europe this year, decades after it was first detected in Nigeria.

1965 first detected, in Nigerian cattle Late July first identified in Europe More than 12 European countries with cases by October 20, 2026 known human case, in France 01 · WHAT IS IT? A virus carried by biting midges It is transmitted by biting midges and mainly affects cattle.

ANIMALS IN WHICH INFECTIONS HAVE BEEN FOUND Cattle Sheep Goats Horses Alpacas Shamonda virus SAME VIRUS GROUP Schmallenberg virus causes reproductive disorders in livestock 02 · WHERE HAS IT SPREAD?

From Nigeria to Europe NIGERIA, 1965 FRANCE GERMANY SPAIN IRELAND AFRICA ASIA First detected in cattle in Nigeria; later found in parts of Africa and Asia. First identified in Europe. France says it was likely circulating there since spring.

BY OCT 20 Cases in more than a dozen European countries, Reuters reports. The ECDC lists Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, plus Jersey.

03 · THE RISK TO ANIMALS What it does to livestock SYMPTOMS Fever Diarrhoea Reduced milk production SERIOUS MORE SERIOUS COMPLICATIONS Abortions Severe foetal malformations Neurological disorders in some horses World Organisation for Animal Health says the long-term impact of the European variants remains uncertain.

04 · THE RISK TO HUMANS One case, in a vulnerable patient Midge bite suspected eastern France Patient in Lyon severely weakened immune system Brain complications French authorities said these were very likely linked to Shamonda The patient, who was being treated for a serious illness, died. The link is not yet confirmed: investigations into the infection and death are continuing WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION isolated human case unlikely to lead to wider spread at this time, based on current information.

ISOLATED CASE WIDER SPREAD 05 · ITS CURRENT STATUS Not on the official watch lists Not listed by WOAH Countries are not required to notify the animal health body under its disease-specific reporting rules.

NOT LISTED Not listed under EU animal health law So it is not subject to EU disease-specific mandatory surveillance. Not listed does not mean harmless.

The absence of a disease-specific listing only means reporting and surveillance are not mandatory under those rules. Available data may not give a complete picture of its spread.

Conceptual illustration only. The squares do not represent real cases, and the grid is not evidence of any specific number of undetected cases.

PLAY ALL INTRO WHAT WHERE ANIMALS HUMANS STATUS Plays automatically. Tap a chapter to replay it and stay on it, or Play all to resume. Sources: Reuters (Paris, Oct 22), citing French authorities, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH); European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), for the list of countries. Map: Natural Earth. Express InfoGenIE Created by Aniruddha Dhar Shamonda virus is transmitted among animals by biting midges and mainly affects cattle.

It has also been detected in sheep, goats, horses and alpacas. The World Health Organization says the reported human infection appears to be isolated and is unlikely to lead to wider spread based on current information.

“This is therefore an exceptional case involving a severely immunocompromised patient,” the French health ministry said, adding that no public health risk has been identified for the general public to date. An AP report added that Shamonda virus, until now, was considered incapable of infecting humans.

The patient was immunocompromised, which made them more vulnerable to infection and severe disease, and unfortunately died. My heartfelt condolences to their loved ones.

Shamonda virus primarily affects animals such as cattle, sheep, goats and horses. The virus is thought to spread between animals by the bites of a midge, which is a small fly-like insect. Further studies are needed to fully understand transmission.

The French patient was in an area where the Shamonda virus was circulating in animals and where Culicoides midges were also present.

@WHO is in contact with French authorities who are collecting information to better understand the source of infection in the first human patient, possible routes of transmission and any potential risk to public health.

October 22, 2026 WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, informing about the virus, wrote in a post on X, “France has reported the first documented case of a human infection with Shamonda virus, a virus previously detected only in animals. The French patient was in an area where the Shamonda virus was circulating in animals and where Culicoides midges were also present.”