Patient dies in France after infection with Shamonda virus
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Businessnews
A severely immunocompromised French patient infected with the Shamonda virus died in early October 2026, according to French authorities. First detected in humans and identified in Europe in late July, the virus now affects 14 Western European countries and is circulating in 52 French departments, according to French ministries and the ESA.
The severely immunocompromised French patient in whom the Shamonda virus was detected died in early October 2026 after receiving treatment in Lyon, according to the French authorities. This is the first documented human case of the virus, which had previously been known to circulate among animals.
The Shamonda virus belongs to the orthobunyavirus family and is transmitted notably by midges of the Culicoides genus. The authorities favour the hypothesis that the patient was infected by an insect bite in eastern France, where the virus was circulating among animals in spring and summer 2026.
First detected in Europe in late July 2026, the virus has spread to 14 Western European countries. In France, it is circulating among cattle in 52 departments, and its presence has also been reported in sheep in two departments and horses in one.
The virus had been known for decades in farm animals, mainly cattle. France’s health and agriculture ministries say its presence has been reported in several regions of Africa as well as in Japan. In August, the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and the Environment estimated that climatic conditions favourable to the insect vectors could contribute to its spread in Europe.
The death follows announcements on 22 October concerning the first human detection of the Shamonda virus in France and the death of the infected patient in Lyon.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
