France Confirms First Human Infection of Shamonda Virus

Key summary

French authorities have confirmed the first human infection of the Shamonda virus globally, following a death in early October 2026. The patient, who had severe immunodeficiency and suffered brain complications, likely contracted the virus via Culicoides biting midges in eastern France. While the virus was previously known only in animals—specifically cattle—and detected in wildlife during spring and summer 2026, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus stated that the organization is coordinating with French officials to assess transmission routes and public health risks. The virus was first identified in Nigeria in the 1960s with prior reports of cattle infections in Africa and Japan, but no human cases had been recorded until this incident.