French authorities announced on Thursday that French doctors have for the first time in history detected the Shamonda virus, which usually affects animals, in a human. This patient died, but authorities emphasize that this was a special case, and in general, the virus does not pose a danger to humans, writes BBC.
The Shamonda virus is usually transmitted among animals through bites of small blood-sucking insects. It has been circulating in Africa and Asia for several decades, and was first detected in Europe this summer.
A joint statement from France's Ministries of Health and Agriculture said that the deceased patient had severe immune system problems, and therefore represents an exceptional case.
«The neurological complications observed in this patient with an impaired immune system before his death can very likely be linked to Shamonda virus infection,» the French ministries stated, emphasizing that specialists are continuing clinical, biological, and epidemiological investigations into this case.
According to preliminary data, the deceased patient contracted the virus when he was bitten by a midge.
This occurred in eastern France, where the virus is circulating among animals.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) stated that it is closely monitoring the French case and its implications.
«ECDC is in contact with French authorities and European partners and is assessing the potential implications for public health,» the center's statement said.
According to the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), among domestic animals, the Shamonda virus mainly affects cattle, but it has also been detected in horses, sheep, and goats.
In cattle, it causes acute diarrhea, fever, drowsiness, and a drop in milk yield. According to Reuters, milk yields on French farms for cows affected by the Shamonda virus have decreased by four times.
This virus was first detected in Nigeria in the mid-1960s and has since spread to some regions of Africa, as well as Japan.
In Europe, the presence of the Shamonda virus was recorded at the end of July – tests showed its presence in animals in southern Germany, Switzerland, and eastern France.
Since then, according to the French weekly veterinary bulletin, it has already been detected in 14 countries in Western Europe, from Ireland and Portugal to Austria and Slovenia.
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