In France, A Virus That Had Previously Only Infected Animals Was Detected In A Human For The First Time Anywhere In The World
- 22.10.2026, 19:25
The patient has died.
In France, the world’s first case of human infection with the Chamond virus—which until now had only been found in animals, primarily cattle—was identified. The infected man died in early October, but it has not yet been determined whether the virus was the cause of his death. French authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) believe there is currently no threat to the public, according to Reuters.
According to French authorities, the patient was being treated at a hospital in Lyon for a serious illness that had significantly weakened his immune system. According to the local newspaper Le Progrès, he was a man over 60 years old.
It is believed that the man became infected after being bitten by an infected sand fly—a small blood-sucking insect similar to a midge. This may have occurred in eastern France, where the virus spread among farm animals during the spring and summer.
French authorities reported that the brain complications the patient experienced before his death were highly likely linked to the Chamond virus. However, no final conclusions have been reached yet. The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) confirmed that the investigation into the cause of death and the circumstances of the infection is ongoing.
The WHO is also monitoring the situation but does not currently expect the virus to spread further among humans.
“Based on the available information and knowledge about the transmission of closely related viruses, this is an isolated case of human infection that is currently unlikely to lead to wider spread,” the organization stated.
The Shamonda virus was first detected in Nigeria in the mid-1960s. It was subsequently identified in animals in other African countries and Japan. Until this latest case, it was believed that the virus did not transmit to humans.
In Europe, the virus was first confirmed in late July 2026 following investigations into sick cows in Germany, Switzerland, and eastern France. It was later detected in other European countries as well, including Austria, Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Portugal.
Blood-sucking midges are the vectors of the virus. It most commonly affects cattle, but it also occurs in sheep, goats, horses, and alpacas.
Infected animals exhibit diarrhea, weakness, loss of appetite, and sometimes a fever. The disease can also seriously affect milk production: a study of nine French dairy farms showed a decrease in milk yield of up to 75%.
The French government has emphasized that no threat to the general population has been identified so far. European and international experts continue to study the virus and the potential consequences of its transmission to humans.