France has reported the first known human case of Shamonda virus infection, health officials have informed. The virus, which is transmitted to animals, was detected in a severely immunocompromised patient who died in early October.
Health authorities mentioned that the present circumstances do not raise any risk to the general population, although it was considered that the Shamonda virus was incapable of affecting humans.
"This is therefore an exceptional case involving a severely immunocompromised patient," according to the ministry.
What is the Shamonda virus?
Shamonda virus is transmitted to animals by biting midges, which are tiny, blood-sucking flies.
As per PTI, it was first detected in Nigeria in the mid-1960s and has been reported sporadically in cattle in West, East and Southern Africa, as well as in Japan. It was identified for the first time in Europe this summer on cattle farms.
How was the first patient infected?
As per officials, the patient was likely infected through a midge bite in eastern France, where the virus was reported to be infecting animals.
French health authorities have notified international health bodies, including the World Health Organisation and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. "The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is carefully monitoring the situation after the French authorities announced the first ever reported human infection with Shamonda virus, a disease that has until now only affected animals," the Stockholm-based ECDC said in a statement.
As per Reuters, a report from France's weekly animal health surveillance
bulletin said the virus had also been detected in Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, and UK's Jersey.
