Shamond virus, previously thought to affect animals, infects and kills human in France

French authorities reported the identification of the Shamonda virus in a severely immunocompromised patient who died in early October. However, official bodies currently rule out a threat to the general population.

The virus, known for over six decades and previously associated exclusively with animals, mainly cattle, was first detected in Europe in July and is currently circulating in 14 Western European countries.

Shamonda belongs to the Orthobunyavirus family and is transmitted by small biting insects, specifically mosquitoes of the Culicoides genus. It was first identified in Nigeria in the mid-1960s, and later found in livestock in various countries in West, East, and South Africa, as well as in Japan. Previously, it was believed that it could not be transmitted to humans.

In cattle, the main symptoms include acute diarrhea, fever, exhaustion, and reduced milk yield. Since the disease does not fall under special sanitary regulation, questions remain about its long-term effects, especially on animal fertility.

The virus was first identified in Europe at the end of July 2026, including France, after which it spread rapidly. According to the latest weekly report from the French Animal Health Surveillance Platform (ESA), its circulation is confirmed in 14 Western European countries.

In France, the virus was found in cattle in 52 departments, as well as in sheep in two departments and horses in one department. The National Institute of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Research (Inrae) suggested in August that the rapid spread might be linked to favorable climatic conditions for vector reproduction.

The first known human case was identified in a severely immunocompromised patient undergoing treatment in Lyon, in central France, who died in early October. The French Ministries of Health and Agriculture called this the 'first documented and reported detection of the virus in humans.'

The authorities' main hypothesis is that the infection occurred after a bite from a Culicoides mosquito in eastern France, a region where the virus had already been recorded circulating among animals in the spring and summer. Authorities did not disclose information about the patient's profession or any activities that might have increased his susceptibility to insect bites. It was also not established that the Shamonda virus infection caused the death.

French authorities state that based on current knowledge, no sanitary risks have been identified for the general public, emphasizing that this was an exceptional case involving a person with a seriously weakened immune system. Currently, there is insufficient data to determine whether the virus can infect healthy people, cause illness, or lead to serious complications. Furthermore, human-to-human transmission has not been documented.

Neurologist Tom Solomon, Director of the Institute of Pandemics in Liverpool, UK, believes that the first human detection raises many scientific questions. He stated in a comment published by the British Science Media Centre that 'since this is the first identified human case, there are many areas of uncertainty.'

Among the main doubts are the possibility of infection in healthy individuals without symptoms, the typical clinical manifestations of the infection, and the frequency with which it can cause severe illness. The specialist noted that there is no reason for panic, but the case demonstrates the importance of monitoring emerging infections, especially those that can affect the brain.

French health authorities have already informed international health organizations about the detection of the first human case. Clinical, laboratory, and epidemiological studies are ongoing to clarify the circumstances of infection, the virus's behavior in humans, and possible related risks. Monitoring the spread among animals also remains important for tracking the evolution of the virus in Europe.

French health authorities confirmed the fatal outcome for a patient who was infected with the single-stranded RNA Shamond virus, belonging to the genus Orthobunyavirus. This case is the first documented instance of human infection with this virus.

Typically, the Shamond virus is found in cattle. Medical specialists believe that the patient may have been infected through the bite of insects from the genus Culicoides, which belong to the family Culicidae and are carriers of this disease.

Details of this incident were officially posted on the website of the French Ministry of Agriculture.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock confirmed the identification of an outbreak of Newcastle Disease (NDV) on a turkey farm located in the municipality of Nova Itaberaba, western Santa Catarina. Although the virus was detected in laboratory analyses, the affected animals showed no visible clinical signs.

This outbreak has led to partial or total suspensions in the purchase of Brazilian chicken by countries such as China and Mexico. However, authorities assure that the disease does not constitute a danger to human health.

Although human contamination is theoretically possible, it is described as extremely rare and mild. Consuming sick chickens that have been properly cooked does not transmit the illness. Cases in humans tend to occur in individuals who have direct contact with the birds, and they can be prevented through the correct use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).

When a human infection occurs, Newcastle Disease manifests symptoms similar to a common flu or mild conjunctivitis, conditions that usually resolve spontaneously.

NDV is caused by a strain of the Orthoavulavirus javaense and primarily affects birds. Its main characteristic is being highly contagious, spreading mainly through direct contact between healthy birds and secretions from contaminated birds.

All secretions from carrier animals carry a high amount of the NDV-causing virus, which has the ability to survive for days or weeks on surfaces. This combination facilitates the spread of the disease through mechanical routes, such as through clothing and footwear soiled with these secretions.

In commercial breeding environments, the confinement system significantly accelerates transmission. According to an informational material from the World Organisation for Animal Health, when the virus enters a vulnerable flock, almost all birds can be infected within a period of two to six days.

Contamination can be asymptomatic, as observed in the farms in SC. If symptoms appear, the virus affects the respiratory, nervous, and digestive systems of the birds. Clinical signs include difficulty breathing, nervous manifestations (such as depression, loss of appetite, muscle tremors, wing drops, head and neck twisting, circular movements, and total paralysis), swelling in the tissues around the eyes and neck, watery and greenish diarrhea, as well as eggs with thin or rough and deformed shells, resulting in lower egg production.

The mortality rate can reach 100%. Due to this, there is a specific protocol for managing outbreaks or epidemics of Newcastle Disease. Necessary actions include implementing quarantines, humane slaughter of all infected or exposed animals, followed by proper disposal of carcasses and general disinfection of the facilities.

Celes Regina de Matos, president of Cidasc, told Agência Brasil that the team is already on site, working on containing and eradicating the virus. She emphasized that the location will be treated as an outbreak focus, and eradication and disinfection will be carried out until the focus is eliminated. Cidasc will only leave the site after this elimination, aiming to do so as quickly as possible. Once the focus is controlled, everyone will be notified, fulfilling the commitment to the external market, which depends on the health of the flock to guarantee imports.