WHO investigates transmission, public health risks of 1st human case of Shamonda virus in France
- WHO chief says agency is working with French authorities to determine how the patient contracted the animal-associated virus
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- WHO chief says agency is working with French authorities to determine how the patient contracted the animal-associated virus
By Beyza Binnur Donmez
GENEVA (AA) - The World Health Organization (WHO) is working with French authorities to determine how the first documented human case of Shamonda virus was contracted and assess any potential risks to public health, its chief said Thursday.
In a post on the US social media company X, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said French officials were gathering information about the source of the infection and possible ways the virus could spread.
Earlier Thursday, France reported the first known human infection with Shamonda virus, which had until then been detected only in animals.
Tedros said the infected patient, who had a weakened immune system that increased their vulnerability to severe illness, had died.
He explained that the virus mainly affects cattle, sheep, goats and horses and is believed to circulate among animals through bites from midges, small flying insects.
However, he stressed that more research is needed to establish its transmission mechanisms.
"The French patient was in an area where the Shamonda virus was circulating in animals and where Culicoides midges were also present," said Tedros.
Beyza Binnur Dönmez