France has reported the first known human case of shamondavirus in a patient who was already seriously ill and more susceptible to infections, according to vg.no. Public health officials stated there is currently no indication that the virus poses a broad risk to the general public.
First human infection follows livestock origin in Africa and Asia
Shamondavirus belongs to the orthobunyavirus group, a family that includes several viruses capable of infecting humans. Until this case, the pathogen was exclusively known to cause disease in animals, primarily cattle and horses. The virus was first identified in Nigeria during the 1960s and has since turned up sporadically across various African and Asian countries. During the summer, authorities detected the virus for the first time in animals across multiple European nations. It transmits primarily through biting midges.
Norwegian Public Health Assessment
"Based on what we know today, there is therefore nothing to suggest that shamondavirus poses a major risk to the general population," Grenersen stated. Because the pathogen was not previously known to infect humans, it is not currently subject to mandatory reporting under the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases (MSIS). FHI noted that any potential future case in Norway would be registered as an unexpected event.
Questions About Shamondavirus
How does shamondavirus spread to hosts?
The virus transmits via biting midges. It has historically caused infections mainly in cattle and horses in African and Asian regions.
Why is the virus not tracked under Norway’s MSIS reporting system?
The virus was never previously known to cause human disease, meaning it was not included on the list of mandatory notifiable diseases managed by the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases.
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