Key facts
- On 22 October 2026, French health authorities reported Shamonda virus (SHAV) infection in a severely immunocompromised patient who was receiving care for a serious medical condition. The patient died in early October.
- This represents the first documented and reported detection of SHAV in a human.
- At this stage of the investigation, vector-borne transmission through the bite of a Culicoides midge is considered the most probable hypothesis for infection. Virus circulation in animals had been reported in the area where the case was residing during spring and summer 2026.
Overview
ECDC is carefully monitoring the situation after the French authorities announced the first ever reported human infection with Shamonda virus (SHAV), a disease that has until now only been reported in animals.
The only infection so far has been in a patient receiving treatment for a serious illness that made them more susceptible to infection and complications than the general population. The patient died in early October. Investigations into whether the virus caused or contributed to the patient’s death and how the infection was acquired are ongoing.
The human infection follows the first ever detection of SHAV in European farm animals in summer 2026. In animals, clinical signs were reported from June, and the virus was identified in late July. It has since been detected in farm animals in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland, as well as Jersey. SHAV has previously been detected among animals in countries outside Europe.
In animals, SHAV is transmitted by biting midges (Culicoides). In Europe, Culicoides biting midges are typically active from spring to autumn, with activity increasing as temperatures rise and peaking during summer and early autumn. The season starts earlier and lasts longer in southern Europe, while in northern Europe it is shorter and generally concentrated between May and October.
ECDC published a news item on 22 October 2026. The ECDC news item can be found at: Severely ill patient in France becomes first ever human infected with Shamonda virus.
ECDC assessment
At this stage of the investigations, vector-borne transmission through the bite of a Culicoides midge is considered the most probable hypothesis for infection. Animal circulation of the virus had been reported in the region where the patient lived during spring and summer 2026.
Further epidemiological, laboratory and entomological investigations are ongoing to assess the magnitude of the event. In addition, investigations into whether the virus caused or contributed to the patient’s death and how the infection was acquired are ongoing.
Actions
French authorities have notified the World Health Organization (WHO) and the ECDC.
Clinical, biological and epidemiological investigations are ongoing within a One Health approach, bringing together expertise in human, animal and environmental health. ECDC has liaised with the European Union Reference Laboratory for Public Health on Vector-borne Viral Pathogens (EURL-PH-VBV), EFSA and the European Commission to ensure aligned and coordinated activities.