France Confirms World's First Human Infection and Death from Shamonda Virus

22 October 2026National

France confirmed on 22 October 2026 the world's first human infection with the Shamonda virus, in an immunocompromised patient who died at a Lyon hospital earlier in October. Shamonda is an orthobunyavirus of the Simbu serogroup, carried by biting midges of the genus *Culicoides*, and was previously known only in animals - mainly cattle. First detected in Nigeria in the 1960s, it has since appeared sporadically in Africa and Japan, and reached Europe for the first time in late July 2026 through genomic tests on sick cattle in Germany, Switzerland and eastern France. The WHO is assisting French authorities, who see no identifiable public risk.

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The Simbu serogroup of orthobunyaviruses also includes the Schmallenberg and Oropouche viruses | Culicoides midges are also the vectors of bluetongue virus and African horse sickness in livestock | The World Health Organization was founded on 7 April 1948, is headquartered in Geneva and is headed by Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus

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Madhya Pradesh Semiconductor Summit 2026 Draws Rs 5,800 Crore in Fresh Chip Proposals

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📅 24 Oct 2026InternationalRead complete →

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