France reported the first human case of the Shamonda virus after a man in his 60s living in the Lyon area died in early October. The French government stated the victim was bitten by a midge carrying the virus in eastern France.
The Stockholm-based European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control reported the patient had been receiving treatment for a serious illness. The UN's World Health Organisation is in contact with French authorities regarding the outbreak.
The Geneva-based WHO said, "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." No health risk to the general population has been identified by the French government.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) confirmed that biting midges transmit Shamonda, which is most commonly found in cattle. The virus has also been detected in horses, alpaca, sheep, and goats.
Shamonda is not classified as a disease under the EU Animal Health Law. The virus was first identified in Nigeria during the mid-1960s.
Europe first saw confirmed cases in late July in southern Germany, Switzerland, and eastern France. France's weekly animal health surveillance bulletin reported detections in Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and the UK's Jersey.
French animal health authorities stated that affected cattle show weakness, diarrhoea, loss of appetite, and occasionally fever. Milk production on nine French dairy farms fell by up to 75%.
