By: Akanksha 

French authorities have confirmed the first known human case of the Shamonda virus, which mostly affects cattle, in a Lyon patient who passed away in early October, adding that there is no health risk to the wider public. 

Before now, the Shamonda virus was thought not to be transmissible to people. This infection marks the first documented and reported detection of the virus in a person. “Despite circulating in Africa and Asia for several decades, the Shamonda virus has never previously been detected in humans,” said the health and agriculture ministries in a statement.

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Who Was the Infected Patient and How Was the Virus Acquired? 

French authorities say the leading theory is that the patient caught the virus from an insect bite — specifically from a tiny fly called a Culicoides midge — in eastern France. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), the exact midge species involved in passing on the virus in this case is still unknown. 

“According to the investigations carried out so far, the brain complications observed in the immunocompromised patient before their death were very likely linked to the Shamonda virus infection,” the Ministry told Euronews. “Based on current knowledge of the virus, no health risk to the general population has been identified to date.”

The Shamonda virus is an insect-borne Orthobunyavirus that mainly affects livestock, especially cattle, and is spread by biting midges. The Shamonda-like virus is an RNA virus that belongs to the Simbu serogroup. It is generally related to the Schmallenberg virus and is likely passed on by biting midges (Culicoides species).

Where Has the Virus Been Detected? 

First isolated from a cow blood sample in Nigeria in 1965, SHAV was later found in Culicoides biting midges in Japan 37 years later, as well as in the Gauteng province of South Africa between 2012 and 2017. In 2023, researchers reported finding SHAV in an aborted goat fetus from South Africa’s Western province.1 This was the first time SHAV was found in an aborted animal in South Africa, suggesting that the virus should be looked at when diagnosing animal abortions in Southern Africa.

This Summer, the virus was found in Western Europe for the first time, with cases showing up in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and Switzerland, along with Jersey island. 

 SHAV is one of the Simbu serogroup viruses that appears to multiply inside the fetus by crossing the ruminant placenta, meaning it can cause misccarriage and birth defects in young animals. In infected adult cattle, the main signs are fever, lethargy, and diarrhea. In dairy cows, a sharp drop in milk production can also be seen, according to Belgium’s national health institute, Sciensano. 

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What Are the 4 Measures Against the Shamonda-like Virus? 

1. Tackle midges at the source: MIdges lay their eggs in mud on standing water, so farmers should clear out or clean up possible breeding spots. 

2. Use insect control products: Treat animal housing or livestock with approved products made for biting insects, like anti-midge sprays or insecticides, to lower the midge numbers on the farm. 

3. Ensure good barn ventilation: Good airflow stops midges from settling inside the barn. Put up fine mesh netting on windows and doors and run fans to keep midges away from the livestock. 

4. Keep high-risk animals indoor: Keep pregnant cows inside the barn during peak midge hours, which are at twilight and night-time. 

Reference: 

Walt, M. van der, M. E. Rakaki, C. MacIntyre, A. Mendes, S. Junglen, C. Theron, T. Anthony, N. O’Dell, and M. Venter. “Identification and Molecular Characterization of Shamonda Virus in an Aborted Goat Fetus in South Africa.” Pathogens 12, no. 9 (2023): 1100. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens12091100.

(Rh/APC)