WHO Reports First Human Case of Shamonda Virus in France

On October 20, 2026, French authorities reported the first documented case of human disease caused by the Shamonda virus to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The virus was detected in a severely immunocompromised patient who died earlier in October.

WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus stated that the virus was previously only detected in animals and that the patient was in an area where the virus was circulating among animals. The virus is transmitted through bites from midges, small fly-like insects.

Ghebreyesus expressed condolences to the patient's loved ones and noted that further studies are needed to understand the virus's transmission. The WHO reported that the Shamonda virus primarily affects animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, and horses, and is thought to spread between animals via midge bites.

The virus has been found in animals in African countries and Japan, and since June 2026, in dairy cows and horses in several Western European countries. The reported human case remains isolated, with no spread to others.