First: Shamonda virus identified in a person in France - patient later dies

French health authorities announced that the Shamonda virus has been identified for the first time in a human, in a patient who later died. The authorities emphasized that at this stage they do not identify a risk to the general public. The initial report did not determine that the virus caused the patient's death, and no details were provided about their identity or the circumstances of infection. Last summer, a new virus from the Shamonda group was identified in cattle farms in France and other European countries. According to the French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment (INRAE), affected herds showed severe diarrhea, fever, decreased activity, and reduced milk production. The identification was made possible through genetic sequencing of samples taken from the animals. Researchers found a virus from the orthobunyavirus group, related to Shamonda, Sathuperi, and Akabane viruses. These viruses affect ruminants and are primarily transmitted by biting midges. Subsequently, specific PCR tests were developed to identify the new virus. In an August publication, researchers assessed that the disease in adult cattle is usually transient but warned of potential impact on pregnancies. In that same publication, they noted that at the time there was no evidence that the new virus could infect humans.