France reports world's first human Shamonda virus case; patient died
A severely immunocompromised man in his 60s treated in Lyon died in early October after infection with Shamonda, a livestock virus spread by midges. France and the WHO say the risk to the public is low.
At a glance
- France's health ministry announced on Thursday, October 22, 2026, the first known human case of Shamonda virus, until now found only in animals.
- The patient, a severely immunocompromised man in his 60s treated in Lyon for an unrelated serious illness, died in early October.
- He was most likely infected by a midge bite in eastern France, where the virus circulated among livestock in spring and summer 2026.
- The WHO called it an isolated case unlikely to lead to wider spread; French authorities say no risk to the general public has been identified.
- There is no commercial vaccine for Shamonda virus; France has notified the WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.
France has recorded the first known human infection with Shamonda virus, a livestock disease spread by biting midges. The French health ministry said on Thursday, October 22, 2026, that the patient, a man in his 60s with a severely weakened immune system, died in early October while being treated in Lyon for another serious illness. The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is an isolated case and unlikely to spread.
What we know about the case
| Detail | What officials said |
|---|---|
| Patient | Man in his 60s living in the Lyon area, identity not released |
| Health | Severely immunocompromised, in hospital for an unrelated serious illness |
| Death | Early October 2026 |
| Likely infection | Bite from a midge carrying the virus in eastern France |
| Announced | October 22, 2026, by France's health ministry |
| Notified to | WHO and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) |
| Risk to public | None identified so far |
The ministry called it "an exceptional case involving a severely immunocompromised patient". It said the virus had been circulating among animals in eastern France during spring and summer, and that the man had been in an area where infected animals and Culicoides midges were present.
Because no human infection had ever been recorded, doctors do not yet know what symptoms the virus causes in people. Investigators are working to confirm how the man was infected and whether his weakened immune system allowed the virus to take hold.
What is Shamonda virus?
Shamonda is mainly a virus of cattle, sheep, goats, horses and alpacas. It was first identified in Nigeria in the mid-1960s and has since been found from time to time in cattle in West, East and Southern Africa, and in Japan. It was detected in Europe for the first time this summer, on cattle farms, and circulated among animals in eastern France.
It belongs to the same broad group as Schmallenberg virus, which spread through European herds after 2011. Like Schmallenberg and bluetongue, it is carried by tiny biting midges rather than passed directly between animals. The World Organisation for Animal Health says there is no commercially available vaccine.
Reactions
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus offered his condolences and said the WHO is working with French authorities to find out how the patient was infected, the possible routes of transmission and any risk to public health.
"Based on current information and knowledge of the transmission of closely related viruses, this is an isolated human case and it is unlikely to lead to wider spread at this time," the WHO said. It added that more studies are needed to confirm exactly how the virus is transmitted.
French officials stressed that the virus had previously been considered unable to infect humans and that there is no sign of person-to-person spread.
Why it matters
The case shows how animal viruses carried by insects can reach new regions and, in rare cases, jump to people. Warmer climates are helping midges and mosquitoes spread further north in Europe, and health agencies are watching such diseases closely. For farmers, Shamonda is mainly an animal health issue: in livestock, related viruses can cause abortions and birth defects.
For the public, including travellers to France from Pakistan, the Gulf and South Asia, there is no special warning. People with weakened immune systems in affected rural areas can lower their risk by avoiding insect bites at dusk and dawn, when midges are most active.
What happens next
French and WHO experts will investigate the case further, including testing the virus from the patient. Animal health authorities will keep monitoring herds in eastern France. Midge activity normally falls sharply as temperatures drop in late autumn and winter, which reduces the chance of new infections.
Questions people are asking
What is Shamonda virus?
Shamonda is a virus of livestock such as cattle, sheep and goats, spread by the bites of tiny Culicoides midges. It was first found in Nigeria in the mid-1960s and later in cattle in Africa and Japan; it was first found on European cattle farms in summer 2026.
Can humans catch Shamonda virus?
Until October 2026 it was thought not to infect people. France has now confirmed one human case, in a severely immunocompromised man who died, but the WHO says this appears to be an isolated case and is unlikely to spread further.
Is Shamonda virus dangerous to the public?
French health authorities say no risk to the general population has been identified, and the virus is not known to spread from person to person. Investigations into how the man was infected are continuing.
